homephotos Newspolitics NewsWill she, won't she? Argentine ex president teases election run with book launch

Will she, won't she? Argentine ex-president teases election run with book launch

SUMMARY

A book launch in Buenos Aires became Argentina's hot ticket of the week, drawing raucous crowds on Thursday night to hear ex-President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and fanning speculation about her plans to run in national elections later this year. Underscoring how the divisive, left-leaning populist can command an audience, supporters packed out an auditorium with thousands more braving driving rains outside to watch giant screens as she discussed her memoirs at a book fair event. Fernandez, a firebrand politician who led Argentina between 2007 and 2015, is widely expected to challenge center-right President Mauricio Macri and has been rising in the polls as an economic crisis hammers the government. The crowds outside, more akin to a political rally than book fair, sporadically broke into chants of "Cristina for President" and "we will come back". The former leader, however, kept quiet on plans to run, despite anticipation she may launch her bid. Argentina is struggling with stubborn inflation and a tumbling peso currency, troubles that have driven down Macri's popularity in opinion polls and fueled speculation that Fernandez could make a successful comeback.

By Reuters Nov 4, 2019 6:46:14 PM IST (Updated)


1 / 8

Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner waves to supporters after the presentation of her book "Sinceramente", at the Buenos Aires book fair, in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 9, 2019. (Reuters)

2 / 8

A couple reads the book "Sinceramente" writen by Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner before her presentation, at the Buenos Aires book fair, in Buenos Aires, Argentina May 9, 2019. (Reuters)

3 / 8