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| Néstor forever! Be strong, Christina! |
So Wednesday, October 27 was a national holiday for the census (see Part I). Everything was closed and the streets were amazingly quiet. It was a gorgeous morning -- bright blue skies and 65 degrees.
After breakfast I looked online to see what expats were saying about the census day. I was shocked to learn that former Argentine President Néstor Kirchner had just died from cardiac arrest.
The death of a former president in any country is significant, but it is huge here for a variety of reasons, primarily because Néstor was married to current President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Argentines have strong feelings about their leaders, and most of those we encounter do not support the Kirchner dynasty. Néstor was renown for overseeing Argentina's recovery from the economic crisis in 2001. He was only 60 and was expected to run for president again in the 2011 election. Cristina is also accused by many of being Néstor's puppet, so it will be very interesting to see any changes in her leadership style and decisions going forward.
Husband talked with some Argentine colleagues that afternoon and they were very concerned about Néstor's death and what it will mean for the current government and 2011 elections. Husband took the subte down to Playa de Mayo that evening to see what was happening. He wasn't sure what to expect -- protests, celebrations, or quiet memorials. There were thousands of people gathered that evening. Here is some of what he saw:
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