There after ……….. Elections 2011, Argentina

Feeling the pulse of the people

As predicted, CFK won last Sunday’s election by a landslide victory. The fact that 54% of the population voted for her, indicates that not only the “lower social class” favored her, as is widely assumed by those who oppose her, but a vast range of people from different social backgrounds. 

Here are some opinions regarding the outcome of the elections: 

(These opinions have been collected from internet forums and are displayed in their original version without editing or corrections) 

Well, we Argentine s eight years ago we heard about the impending disaster and the dark clouds that lie ahead if we do not follow the advice of 'the markets'.

The truth is that all disasters that told us we were going to happen did not happen in Argentina, but that are happening in USA and Europe. And the election results show just that: Governments who follow the advice of 'the markets' are repudiated by their own people, and those who do not, sweep with wins of 54%.

I think it's good that Fernandez is attempting to give her country what they want. It is very important that she does show personality because the people need to feel a connection between themselves and their President. Bringing her family on stage was a perfect way to do that. Argentina has been doing pretty well economically so as long as everything stays the same I don't see why the people wouldn't be happy with Fernandez.

Argentina is doing pretty well in the current economic standing and I think that it is a good thing for Fernandez to become president. She will give the people what they want in order to make her country better and more prosperous even with the already high prices of soybeans and rapid growth of Brazil. The country obviously wants her as president and I believe that she will make a good change to the country.

Argentina is currently in a period of economic stability, which is why it is not surprising Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was reelected. It is important to remember that this stability is not promised to the people of Argentina, and therefore she can celebrate her victory but must continue policies. Improvements must be made and the economy must continue to be monitored in Argentina and Fernandez cannot get too comfortable.

Fernandez is doing all she can to please her people. I applauded her for trying to get up and closer and personal with her people. I feel like world leaders have forgotten about this important aspect and are too preoccupied with economics and war. I believe her people grew closer when she brought her kids on stage because it showed she was a loving mother and that she is going to care for her country like she cares for her children. Also Argentina is doing well economically under Fernandez and if she doesn't change anything, her people will continue to love and praise her.

If a 25% annual rate of inflation amounts to economic stability then all is well with Argentina's world.
If the same 25% means that it is time to print more money, then it's time for the kissing to stop and austerity to kick in - otherwise how can the IMF agree to give more of the world's money to prop up this tottering state? Providers of financial support need some sort of confidence that they will get their money back; defaults do nobody any good.

It is great thing for Argentina that Ms Fernández is President. When more than half the country elects and wants the nominee to win Presidency it is a great thing. That means she has really appealed to the people and thats what the people want they want someone who is going to listen to them and do what they want. Even though at some point she lost some of her popularity and support she really showed the people that she was there for them by listening to them and making some changing that would benefit the citizens, the people she is representing.

I would do just as well as Argentina economically, if I don't pay what I should and if I abuse of Other People's Money like her government has been doing for the past 8 years. Well, must I add that I'm not happy at all with Fernandez?

Truth is Argentina did well in spite of this government, but certainly not thanks to her. Sooner than later, everything like eg soybean prices, and Brazilian's monetary policies, won't stay the same and then, I would like to know how much will the voters they elected her yesterday, still like her. 

Almost or more than half of the people live thanks to the work of the other half, because of an overwhelming tax structure. The corruption has never been worse. The education and well mannered people had vanished. The crime rate is outrageous. Not even the Argentine people invest, but keep taking their money out of the country. The public administration words and deeds have been embarrassing for too long. Let alone the farm sector. 

It seems unaccountable to me.

Argentina's Iron Lady wins big again. It should be interesting to see how Cristina Fernandez and her political party act now that they have won power of every branch of government. There seems to be unofficial indication that Argentina's economy is reaching a plateau. It can only run on high priced exports and a bloated Brazilian trade for so long, so it will be interesting to see whether their trend of growth will continue under Fernandez. If it doesn't then they will have to seriously consider tackling their debt issue and closing the hatches on their government spending. Hopefully they open up opportunities for Argentina to diversify its economy to better handle a global economy. 

On another note, I hope that Argentina does not switch from a presidential to a parliamentary system just to keep Fernandez in power. That change would have monumental impacts on their government and how their democracy functions. It would also give one body complete power over government and do away with healthy checks and balances in a presidential system. Finally I believe it would be a great loss to do away with the executive branch, which acts as a unified front to other countries diplomatically and militarily. Let them do as they wish though, as long as it is democratic it should prevent an abuse of power.

It is amazing that so many comments favour Cristina. 46% of the votes reject her. This 46% is composed of what class of people? Those who cannot accept her attacks on the free press using trade union thugs and on farmers. Or her absurd anti-Americanism. Or her failure to pay the country's debts, even though the economy and balance of payments provides the means. Or the lies told that there are no obstacles to import freely (ask Brazil and Uruguay)! Or the lies told about inflation. Or the vast subsidies paid to keep utility prices down and Aerolineas going. Or her admiration of the absurd Chavez ( which the Argentine foreign service has to deny). Who are the 54%? The "pueblo" who benefits from the above. Populism. The success of the soya farmers. Carlos Lacroze is dead right.

It's been said that Argentina has been lucky and that, without high commodity prices, their situation would be different. This is - up to a point - true but the great virtue of the Kirchners has been to tackle head on the farming establishment's traditional tax avoidance status. The Kirchner's much maligned export tax has allowed the Argentine state to collect income at source and redistribute within the nation, increasing internal demand which itself stimulates local industry.

As things stand, about 10 billion surplus agricultural dollars are leaving the country every year. That amount would be considerably higher had her government not introduced the controversial export tax. Wealth would have remained in the hands of a tiny minority who would have - as they have done for decades - salted the money abroad. So - had the Kirchners not been in power - the "China bonanza" would have benefited only the few.

It should be pointed out that while Mrs. Kirchner obtained 54% of the votes, Mr. Lambias (one of the leaders of the "farming revolt" which opposed the tax) came last in the rural, traditional farming district where he stood for a Congressional seat. He obtained a miserly 2.5% of the votes . Mrs Kirchner not only won the election, she has also won - at least amongst the Argentine people - the intellectual argument as to the rights and wrongs of taxing those with excessive wealth concentration.

And I'll add some figures for those who insist on the idea that Argentina's growth depends on fortunate events ('tail wind') that are not under our control:

1. The export / GDP ratio in Argentina is barely 22%, so much of our exports are easily sold on the domestic market if things go bad abroad.

2. Soybean is hardly 5.38% of our GDP, so its influence on the total economy is barely noticeable. Those who speak of the 'tail wind' should explain then how grew the remaining 95% of the economy.

The bottom line is: Argentina isn't so naked and exposed to external influences as other countries. Be it financial or commercial. It has a relatively large domestic market to soften the spikes it is exposed to.

And most important: People are excited (as the last poll shows) and wants to keep growing as usual. Optimism. An invaluable asset, hard to get abroad.

I did not vote for Mrs Fernandez on Sunday. Although it is true that economic growth and spillover effect on income has happened over the last 8 years, not all of it is a merit of the Kirchner couple. The high inflation level , the corruption , the blind-eye to extortion and bullying tactics by friendly union leaders and erratic foreign policy , siding with unsavory latinamerican leaders are some of the reasons for me choosing to be on the losing side of last Sunday's election. Time will tell if I was wrong from joining- in in the consumption frenzy as if there was no tomorrow , in a world climate that is getting darker