Argentina's former President, Nestor Kirchner, has died at the age of 60 after suffering a heart attack.Mr Kirchner served as president from 2003 to 2007, and was being tipped to stand for election again in 2011. His wife, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, succeeded him as president in 2007, after he had overseen Argentina's recovery from a severe economic crisis.
| I know it's not polite to speak ill of someone in times like these, but Mr. Kirchner didn't oversee a recovery. His country is worse off today than before, and he and his wife have been involved in all sorts of skanky financial and political deals. Together the two of them pro'ly got their ten percent. Sorry to hear he died, but he wasn't a hero. |
The couple had faced some criticism within Argentina for appearing to get around presidential term limits by stepping aside for each other, and suffered a setback last year when their Peronist party lost its absolute majority in both houses of Argentina's Congress.
A lawyer by training, Mr Kirchner served as mayor of Rio Gallegos, his hometown in Argentina's Patagonian south, before becoming governor of the wider region - the oil and gas-rich province of Santa Cruz. He was elected president after Argentina had seen a series of presidents come and go following a major financial crisis in 2001.
As president Mr Kirchner encouraged changes in Argentina's justice system that set in motion dozens of trials against members of the 1976-1983 military government, who were accused of human rights abuses. He oversaw Argentina's recovery from the country's economic crisis in 2001 and 2002, and many Argentines credit him with fighting poverty and unemployment.
However, Mr Kirchner and his wife also faced allegations that they used their influence over local authorities to accumulate wealth. The couple denied the claims. According to their own statements, the Kirchners made most of the money through property deals in Santa Cruz, the province Mr Kirchner governed before becoming president.
The politician was confrontational towards his opponents, and some critics called Mr Kirchner authoritarian. He also sharply criticised big business, and his unorthodox economic policies were unpopular with investors.
Since leaving office Mr Kirchner continued to remain politically active despite his health problems. He had remained a member of the Argentine congress and secretary general of the South American regional grouping, Unasur.
With that role he maintained political influence beyond the borders of Argentina, playing a role in disputes and issues across South America, including in recent civil unrest in Ecuador.