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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Argentina's Cristina Fernandez criticises 'elite' | Argentina's Cristina Fernandez criticises 'elite' |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has criticised her country's elite for trying to create a negative image of her government. | Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has criticised her country's elite for trying to create a negative image of her government. |
| "These small sectors have done well through history, they have kept the lion's share," Ms Fernandez said in an interview with state television. | "These small sectors have done well through history, they have kept the lion's share," Ms Fernandez said in an interview with state television. |
| She added that most Argentines are better off now then when she came to power. | She added that most Argentines are better off now then when she came to power. |
| "Argentina is growing by 5% a year in a world that is collapsing," she said. | "Argentina is growing by 5% a year in a world that is collapsing," she said. |
| She accused the country's media of misleadingly "creating an image people believe in". | She accused the country's media of misleadingly "creating an image people believe in". |
| "Many want to go to back to the Argentina of the past, where labour cost was much lower and profit margins from speculation much higher," she told Television Publica. | "Many want to go to back to the Argentina of the past, where labour cost was much lower and profit margins from speculation much higher," she told Television Publica. |
| She said privileged sectors in Argentina "have failed to learn from history, or believe that history can be repeated indefinitely." | She said privileged sectors in Argentina "have failed to learn from history, or believe that history can be repeated indefinitely." |
| Financial meltdown | Financial meltdown |
| Her government had reduced unemployment and raised the standard of living, she said, through successful development and growth public policies. | Her government had reduced unemployment and raised the standard of living, she said, through successful development and growth public policies. |
| Ms Fernandez said Argentina's transformation began when her late husband, Nestor Kirchner, took office as president in May 2003. | Ms Fernandez said Argentina's transformation began when her late husband, Nestor Kirchner, took office as president in May 2003. |
| He took over a country recovering for the financial collapse which culminated in street riots at the end of 2001. | He took over a country recovering for the financial collapse which culminated in street riots at the end of 2001. |
| Argentina enjoyed several years of strong economic growth during his government. | Argentina enjoyed several years of strong economic growth during his government. |
| He was succeeded by Cristina Fernandez, who was first elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011 with 54% of the vote. | He was succeeded by Cristina Fernandez, who was first elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011 with 54% of the vote. |
| But her popularity has since declined, according to opinion polls, and protesters have taken to the streets to denounce widespread corruption and high inflation. | But her popularity has since declined, according to opinion polls, and protesters have taken to the streets to denounce widespread corruption and high inflation. |
| Ms Fernandez has also had a difficult relationship with the country's media. Under her government, the Congress approved a new media law that critics say restricts press freedom. | |
| She also introduced tighter regulations for Argentines attempting to buy foreign currency. | She also introduced tighter regulations for Argentines attempting to buy foreign currency. |
| In her interview with state television, Ms Fernandez said the measure was necessary. | In her interview with state television, Ms Fernandez said the measure was necessary. |
| "As president I look after the interests of 40 million Argentines. So, as I don't print dollars, I need dollars to pay the debt I haven't created." | "As president I look after the interests of 40 million Argentines. So, as I don't print dollars, I need dollars to pay the debt I haven't created." |