ARGENTINA: Flags at half mast in capital as nation mourns death of former president Nestor Kirchner

Record ID: 449063

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Flags at half mast in capital as nation mourns death of former president Nestor Kirchner
  • Date: 28th October 2010
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (OCTOBER 27, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE ARGENTINE FLAG FLYING HALF MAST VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING IN THE MAIN PLAZA, PLAZA DE MAYO OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT PALACE, AS A WAY OF SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT TO ARGENTINE PRESIDENT AND WIFE OF NESTOR KIRCHNER, CRISTINA FERNANDEZ (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UNKNOWN ARGENTINE SUPPORTER WITH A SIGN READING 'HAVE STRENGTH, CRISTINA', SAYING: "Don't abandon us, please. Don't leave us, Cristina. Be stronger than ever. Now we are all going support you." GATES OF THE GOVERNMENT PALACE WITH FLAGS, FLOWERS AND A SIGN THAT SAYS 'LONG LIVE, NESTOR. CRISTINA, YOU ARE NOT ALONE' CLOSE-UP OF SIGN SAYING 'HAVE STRENGTH, CRISTINA' CONGRESS BUILDING FLAG OF CONGRESS BUILDING AT HALF MAST VARIOUS OF KIRCHNER SUPPORTER, SAUL PEREZ, OUTSIDE CONGRESS WITH A SIGN SAYING 'THANK YOU, NESTOR. HAVE STRENGTH, CRISTINA' (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KIRCHNER SUPPORTER, SAUL PEREZ, CRYING AND SAYING: "A comrade has gone. A friend has gone. A statesman has gone. A man that had understood the needs of the people." CLOSE-UP OF A SIGN SAYING "THANK YOU, NESTOR. YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED BY YOUR PEOPLE" KIRCHNER SUPPORTER, MARIA ELENA, CRYING AND HOLDING ON TO A POLICEMAN'S HAND THROUGH GATE OUTSIDE CONGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KIRCHNER SUPPORTER, MARIA ELENA, SAYING: "I am very thankful. The truth is it is a loss for the country. I am very sad." VARIOUS OF KIRCHNER SUPPORTER, ROSALBA ESPINOSA, CRYING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) KIRCHNER SUPPORTER, ROSALBA ESPINOSA, SAYING: "I took this news very badly. And I hope that God gives lots of strength to the president. Lots of strength."
  • Embargoed: 12th November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Obituaries,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAQK70N89QO2DGIVAOMD2UZ1V8
  • Story Text: Argentina was in mourning on Wednesday (October 27) as the country came to terms with the sudden death of former president Nestor Kirchner.
    Flags were flown at half mast in honour of the 60-year-old politician who died from heart problems.
    His supporters came to pay their respects outside the Presidential Palace, with many wanting to show support for Argentina's President and Kirchner's wife, Cristina Fernandez.
    "Don't abandon us, please. Don't leave us, Cristina. Be stronger than ever. Now we are all going to support you," shouted one unidentified woman.
    Many laid flowers and wrote signs with messages telling the president to have strength and that she was not alone in her grief.
    People were also seen gathering at the nation's Congress Building, with some visibly upset by the death of the left-leaning former leader.
    Kirchner supporter Saul Perez cried as he spoke of the loss.
    "A comrade has gone. A friend has gone. A statesman has gone. A man that understood the needs of the people," said Perez.
    Another supporter, Maria Elena, sought the support of policeman, who was guarding Congress, by holding onto his hand.
    "I am very thankful. The truth is it is a loss for the country. I am very sad," said Maria Elena.
    Supporter Rosalba Espinosa said she had been personally distressed by the news.
    "I took this news very badly. And I hope that God gives lots of strength to the president. Lots of strength."
    As members of the public demonstrated outpourings of grief, various ministers were preparing to head south to the Kirchner's hometown, Calafate in Santa Cruz Province, where he died at a local hospital.
    Politicians making the trip included Minister of Planning and Works, Julio de Vido, and Social Development Secretary, Alicia Kirchner, who is also the ex-president's sister.
    "He [Kirchner] taught us that politics was not about giving up. That it was constructed and could move beyond what seemed, at times, to be politically correct," said the National Deputy of Argentina's Congress, Agustin Rossi.
    Kirchner was President of Argentina from 2003 until 2007, when his wife took over.
    The pair were considered the most powerful couple in the country and Kirchner was expected to run for the presidency again in 2011.
    His death leaves the country uncertain about the future of his Peronist Party.
    Kirchner was known to not be in optimum health, having undergone two arterial procedures earlier this year, but his death still came as a shock to many.
    The Patagonia-born politician was serving as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations when he died. He assumed the role in May at a ceremony that was attended by his wife, Fernandez; the Ecuadorian President, Rafael Correa; and the Brazilian President, Lula Da Silva.
    "I, Nestor Carlos Kirchner, swear to act loyally in the role as Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations," said Kirchner as he made his oath.
    Kirchner and Fernandez had tight links with many leftist leaders across the continent, including Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez.
    Kirchner oversaw Argentina's recovery from a devastating economic collapse in 2001 and was lauded for pulling the country back on its feet.
    Critics disapproved of his unorthodox economic policies, which have largely continued during his wife's administration.
    Local news sources said Fernandez was at Kirchner's side when he died.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register