# Néstor Kirchner

Néstor Carlos Kirchner (25 February 1950 – 27 October 2010) was a former president of Argentina. Kirchner became President in 2003 after his rival Carlos Menem dropped out of a runoff election. He and his wife Cristina Fernández de Kirchner ideologically pursued a left-wing form of Peronism known as Kirchnerism. As President, his administration completed the Argentine debt restructuring, repaid Argentina's foreign debt to the International Monetary Fund, managed the inflation of the Argentine peso, pursued economic integration with Latin America, and prosecuted military officials complicit in the Argentine Dirty War after previous amnesties were ruled unconstitutional. He chose not to run for reelection in 2007 in favor of his wife, alongside whom he continued to serve as First Gentleman until his death in 2010. He also was appointed General-Secretary of the Union of South American Nations, a regional alliance of South American countries founded by Venezuela to counteract U.S. influence in the continent.

## About Kirchner
### After his death

"Our country needed this man. We lost someone indispensable", said Estela Carlotto, president of Grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo
"He was a great President, he made an excellent administration. He was one in a million fighter politician", said opposition left-wing politician Pino Solanas.
"He's been the best President of Democracy", said his former Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers and later opposition politician Alberto Fernández. "I've lost a friend, above all differences" he further said.
"The people will recognize the continuing government effort Kirchner inaugurated in 2003", said leading labor union CGT Secretary General, Hugo Moyano.
"His role in the economic, social and political recovery of his country was remarkable, as his commitment in the struggle for the south-american integration", stated the Government of Brazil. Presidential candidate and former Chief of Staff of Brazil, Dilma Rousseff, expressed his grief and said "Latin America and the whole world is mourning. Kirchner was a great friend of Brazil".
A communiqué issued by the Venezuela's Ministry of Foreign Affairs read: "The glorious history of the Argentine Republic has a before and after Néstor Kirchner. Beacuase of his neat condution, his unyielding courage, and determination of this loyal heir of the late Juan Domingo Perón, Argentina rose from its ashes to re-encounter his place among the free and independent nations after the neoliberal years."
"He was an outstanding partner and a promotor of Latin American integration", said Mexican President Felipe Calderón.
"His death represents a great loss for South American countries, said President of Chile Sebastián Piñera.
"We are shocked. Néstor Kirchner was a very valuable man. He had his principles above anything else. He was passionate about politics, and he was a driving force for South-American integration", said Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador Ricardo Patiño.
"Bolivia lost a man compromised with his country, for his people. He opted for the poor and worked for a more participative democracy", said Minister of Foreign Affairs of bolivia, David Choquehuanca.
"We recognize in Néstor Kirchner a valiant son of Latin America, commited to policies coherent with the rights and wishes of the peoples and with the exercise of full soverignty and independence", said Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.
A statement issued by the Union of South American Nations read: "The death of Néstor Kirchner deprives Latin America of a key leader in the building of an inclusive region [...] He was convinced of the unity of Latin American peoples. He fought for his life by profound changes in his country and Latin America, and worked from different agencies for social justice, equity, democracy and integration". It also underlines his participation in "decisive instances", such as the 2010 Colombia–Venezuela diplomatic crisis and the 2010 Ecuador crisis, when he promoted the issuing of the democratic clause of Unasur.
"He was a farsighted and sage politician. As President of Argentina he made a great contribution to his country's economic and social estability [...] enhancing the international standing of Argentina. He led the way for Latin American integration in pursuit of peace", said President Dmitri Medvedev of Russia.
"He was a decisive figure in Argentine history. Argentina lost a stateman who collaborated in the development of his country, its economic recovery and the growth of its international standing [...] He was one of the architects of Latin American regional integration.", said Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, Bernard Kouchner.

## References

* ↑ Nuestro país lo necesitaba tanto a este hombre. Se fue alguien indispensable Dolor, Página/12
* ↑ Un gran presidente, que hizo un gran mandato, y un político de batalla como pocos Solanas: "Fue un político de batalla como pocos", Página/12
* ↑ Alberto Fernández: "Perdimos al mejor presidente de la democracia", La Nación
* ↑ Según Moyano, "la mayoría del pueblo va a reconocer la obra iniciado por Kirchner en 2003", Clarín
* ↑ Fue notable su papel en la reconstrucción económica, social y política de su país y su empeño en la lucha común por la integración suramericanaVenezuela y Brasil decretan tres días de duelo por muerte de Néstor Kirchner, Telesur
* ↑ Candidata Dilma Rousseff recuerda a Néstor Kirchner como el "gran amigo de Brasil", Telesur
* ↑ La gloriosa historia de la República Argentina tiene ya en Néstor Kirchner un antes y un después, pues fue con la conducción clara, la valentía indoblegable y la determinación de este fiel heredero del gran Juan Domingo Perón, que la Argentina resurgió de las cenizas a las cuales quiso reducirla el capitalismo neoliberal, para reencontrar el sitio que por siempre tiene reservado en el campo de las naciones libres e independientes.Venezuela y Brasil decretan tres días de duelo por muerte de Néstor Kirchner, Telesur
* ↑ "El señor Kirchner fue un interlocutor de excelencia y un promotor de la unidad latinoamericana, por lo que será siempre recordado en nuestro país con un gran afecto Presidente mexicano define a Kirchner como principal promotor de la unidad latinoamericana, Telesur
* ↑ ...una gran pérdida para todos los países de América del Sur Piñera: Muerte de Kirchner es "una gran pérdida para todos los países de América del Sur", Telesur
* ↑ Estamos tremendamente consternados, Néstor Kirchner fue un hombre muy valioso, tenía por delante los principios antes de cualquier cosa, apasionado por la política de entrega, un hombre impulsador de la integración Suramericana Gobiernos de Bolivia y Ecuador lamentan muerte de Néstor Kirchner, Telesur
* ↑ Bolivia pierde a un hombre con compromiso con su país, por su pueblo. Él optó por lo pobres y trabajó por una democracia más participativa Gobiernos de Bolivia y Ecuador lamentan muerte de Néstor Kirchner, Telesur
* ↑ Reconocemos en Néstor Kirchner a un valiente hijo de nuestra América comprometido con una política coherente con los derechos y anhelos de los pueblos y con el ejercicio de su plena soberanía e independencia Presidente de Nicaragua dice que Kirchner fue "un valiente hijo de nuestra América", Telesur
* ↑ Unasur: Kirchner "fue un convencido de la unidad de los pueblos latinoamericanos", Telesur
* 1 2 Líderes de todo el mundo lamentan el fallecimiento de Kirchner, El País