Reuters AlertNet Lite - Argentine first lady bashes IMF in campaign ad

Reuters AlertNet Full site

NEWSDESK

Argentine first lady bashes IMF in campaign ad

18 Oct 2007 15:20:28 GMT
Source: Reuters

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Argentine first lady and leading presidential candidate Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has taken a swipe at the International Monetary Fund in a campaign advertisement days before Argentina's election.

The television commercial shows children answering incorrectly when apparently asked if they knew what the IMF was. A voice-over then follows saying, "Thanks to us, your children ... have no idea of what the IMF is."

The government of President Nestor Kirchner last year prepaid $9.5 billion owed to the IMF, a step he said would free Argentina from the fund's influence over its economic policy.

Kirchner blames the fund's policies for triggering Argentina's 2001-02 economic crisis, when the country defaulted on its debt and devalued the peso currency.

The commercial, which is also featured on Fernandez's Web site, www.cristina.com.ar, marked renewed criticism of the Washington-based lender by Argentine authorities in a country where the fund is widely unpopular.

According to polls, Fernandez is the overwhelming favorite to succeed her husband in the Oct. 28 presidential vote.

(For more on Argentina's October presidential election, click on www.reuters.com/news/globalcoverage/argentina)

AlertNet news is provided by

Email this article Send comments

Countries

Small country map
© 2004 Europa Technologies Ltd.

Reset map

• Argentina profile
· View map

MORE >>

NGO latest

• Brown government disappoints on first test of AIDS commitment
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

• Publications Update: a new newsletter from the International HIV/AIDS Alliance
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

• New International Health Partnership must build on AIDS accountability
International HIV/AIDS Alliance - UK

• Latin America acts on Birth Registration
Plan Asia Regional Office (ARO)

• Plan hails "Giant Step"
Plan Asia Regional Office (ARO)

MORE >>

Latest news

• Argentine first lady bashes IMF in campaign ad

• EU seeks tough controls on deep-water trawlers

• UN force in Haiti to target arms, drugs smuggling

• INTERVIEW-Argentine priest says Church complicit in dirty war

• Venezuela's Chavez spends heavily to help allies

MORE >>

Last updated:Thu Oct 18 15:19:58 2007