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Kirchnerism

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Kirchnerism
Kirchnerismo
LeaderCristina Fernández de Kirchner
FounderNéstor Kirchner
Founded1 March 2003;21 years ago(2003-03-01)
HeadquartersBuenos Aires
Youth wingThe Campora
MembershipJusticialist Party
IdeologyPeronism[1][2][3][4]
Neo-developmentalism[5][6][7][8]
Transversalism[9][10][11][12][13][14]
Anti-neoliberalism[15][14][16][17][18]
Social democracy[1][2][3][19][20]
Left-wing populism[21][22][23][24]
Progressivism[25][26][27][3][28]
Economic nationalism[29][30][31][32]
Political positionCentre-left[40]toleft-wing[46]
National affiliationFront for Victory(2003-2017)
Citizen's Unity(2017-2019)
Frente de Todos(2019-2023)
Union for the Homeland
(since 2023)
Seats in theChamber of Deputies
90 / 257
Seats in theSenate
32 / 72
Website
www.pj.org.ar
Part ofa serieson
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Kirchnerism(Spanish:Kirchnerismo[kiɾʃneˈɾismo]) is an Argentine political movement based onpopulistideals formed by the supporters of spousesNéstor KirchnerandCristina Fernández de Kirchner,who consecutively served asPresidents of Argentina.Although considered a branch ofPeronism,it is opposed bysome factions of Peronistsand generally considered to fall into the category ofleft-wing populism.[28][47][48]

Although originally a section in theJusticialist Party,Kirchnerism later received support from other smallerArgentine political parties(like theCommunist Partyor theHumanist Party) and from factions of some traditional parties (like theRadical Civic Unionand theSocialist Party). In parties which are divided along Kirchnerist/Anti-Kirchnerist lines, the members of the Kirchnerist faction are often distinguished with theletter K(for instance "peronistas/justicialistasK ","radicalesK "or"socialistasK ") while theanti-Kirchneristfactions, those opposing Kirchnerism, are similarly labelled with the expression "anti-K".

Characteristics[edit]

Rally of youth belonging toLa Cámpora,April 2012

Both Kirchner and Fernández come from the left-wing of Peronism and both began their political careers as members of thePeronist Youth(Juventud Peronista). Many of the Kirchners' closest allies belong to the Peronist left. Anti-Kirchnerists often criticize this ideological background with the termsetentista( "seventies-ist" ), suggesting that Kirchnerism is overly influenced by the populist struggle of the 1970s.

Initially, Kirchnerism has shown itself to be concerned with the defense ofhuman rights,particularly in prosecuting those who committed human rights violations during theDirty Warand were later made immune from prosecution by the governments ofCarlos Menem(1989–1999). The willingness of the Kirchner government to revoke these immunities has led many Argentine pressure groups, such as theMadres de Plaza de MayoandAbuelas de Plaza de Mayo,to take an actively Kirchnerist position.[49]This has led to many controversies and to allegations that the Kirchners were never fully committed to human rights, especially during the period of the last military dictatorship, and that it was only when Kirchner became President and began to make alliances with the left-wing parties in Congress and with the Madres de Plaza de Mayo that he started to campaign about these rights in order to promote his own platform and gain popular favor. It is documented nevertheless that the Kirchners did push for trial against human rights violators during the dictatorship, although late in that period in 1983, when its end was already in sight.[50]

Economically, Kirchnerism has pursued an economic policy ofindustrialistdevelopmentalism.Tariffsprotectlocal industry and employment.

Internationally, Kirchnerism has strongly supportedMercosurand vice versa, to the point that the President of Mercosur,Carlos Álvarez,is a Kirchnerist.

  • One of the most prominent aims of Kirchnerism is to strengthen Argentine relations with the countries of Latin America and to establish a South American economic axis. Recent economic measures posited by Fernández's government have nevertheless hurt Argentina's relationship with these countries, mainlyBrazil[51]andUruguay,whose PresidentJosé "Pepe" Mujicaexpressed worries regarding Argentina going towards an "autarkist" form of government and the Kirchneristeconomic model"complicating relationships and multiplying difficulties" in bilateral commerce.[52]

Kirchnerism, in particular former minister of healthGinés González García,has shown a liberal attitude tobirth controland sexuality, including the legalization ofsame-sex marriage,both of which have provoked the opposition of theCatholic Churchand other conservative sectors.[53]

Ideology[edit]

Five economic tenets[edit]

According toAlberto Fernández,the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers during the first five years of Kirchnerism and formerPresident of Argentina,they followed five tenets regarding the economy, which explained the perceived early success of the movement:[54]

  1. "Take no measures that increase the fiscal deficit"
  2. "Take no measures that increase the trade deficit"
  3. "Accumulate reserves in the central bank"
  4. "Keep the exchange rate very high to stay competitive and favor exports"
  5. "Pay off the external debt and do not acquire new debt"

According to Fernández,Cristina Fernández de Kirchnermoved away from these five tenets after her husband's death, causing an economic crisis that resulted in the first political defeat of Kirchnerism in a presidential election in 2015. In the presidential election of 2019, Kirchnerism returned to power with the election of Alberto Fernández as President and Cristina Kirchner as Vice President.[55][56]In the 2021 legislative elections on 14 November 2021, theFrente de Todoslost its majority in Congress for the first time in almost 40 years in midtermlegislative elections.The election victory of the center-right coalition,Juntos por el Cambio(Together for Change), meant a tough final two years in office for President Alberto Fernandez. Losing control of the Senate made it difficult for him to make key appointments, including to the judiciary. It also forced him to negotiate with the opposition every initiative he sends to the legislature.[57][58]

Transversalism[edit]

Unlike his predecessorEduardo Duhalde,Kirchner was a Peronist that distrusted the Justicialist Party as a support for his government. He proposed instead a "transversalist" policy, seeking the support ofprogressivepoliticians regardless of their party.[59]Thus he got support from factions of the Justicialist Party, theRadical Civic Union(which were called "Radicales K") and smallcentre-leftparties.

Kirchner neglected the internal politics of the Justicialist Party and kept instead theFront for Victoryparty, which was initially an electoral alliance in his homeprovinceofSanta Cruzand in the2003 electionspremiered in the federal political scene. Some politicians favored by this policy wereAníbal Ibarra,mayor of Buenos Aires for theBroad Frontand supported as Kirchnerist; andJulio Cobos,governor of Mendoza for the UCR and elected as Vice President ofFernández de Kirchnerin 2007.

Decline[edit]

The transversalist project was eventually dismissed. Kirchner took control of the Justicialist Party and some "Radicales K", slowly returned to the "anti-K" faction of their party, most notably Vice PresidentJulio Cobosand Governor ofCatamarcaprovinceEduardo Brizuela del Moral,while other very prominent Radical politicians remained in the "K" wing of theRadical Civic Unionsuch as provincial governorsGerardo ZamoraofSantiago del Estero,Ricardo ColombiofCorrientesandMiguel SaizofRío Negro.After the2011 general elections,several K radicals regretted having been part of that political space, turning once again to the opposition UCR. Such is the case ofMiguel Saiz,former governor of Río Negro, who declared: "My commitment to the Concertación ended in December 2011".

Resurgence[edit]

In March 2015, dissatisfied with the UCR's alliance withMauricio Macri'sRepublican Proposal(PRO), theNational Alfonsinist Movement(MNA) led byLeopoldo Moreaujoined the Front for Victory. For this reason,Ernesto Sanz,the president of the UCR, announced the expulsion of Moreau from the party.[60]ProfessorGustavo Melellawas reelected as mayor of the city of Río Grande in 2015, through theFORJA Concertación Party.During the presidency ofAlberto Fernández,Ricardo Alfonsinwas appointed as the Ambassador to Spain.

Election results[edit]

Presidency[edit]

Election year Candidate First round Second round Result Note
# votes % vote # votes % vote
2003 Néstor Kirchner 4,312,517 22.25 Null 0 Green tickY2nd-R Unopposed withinFront for Victory
2007 Cristina Kirchner 8,651,066 45.29 Green tickYElected
2011 11,865,055 54.11 Green tickYElected
2015 Daniel Scioli 9,338,490 37.08 12,317,330 48.66 Red XN2nd-R Defeated
2019 Alberto Fernandez 12,946,037 48.24 Green tickYElected withinEveryone's Front
2023 Sergio Massa 9,387,184 36.38 11,598,720 44.35 Red XN2nd-R Defeated withinUnion for the Homeland

Chamber of Deputies[edit]

Election year Votes % Seats won Total seats Position Presidency Note
2003 5,511,420 35.1
58 / 130
129 / 257
 Majority Eduardo Duhalde(PJ) including the other PJ factions
2005 5,071,094 29.9
50 / 127
75 / 257
 Minority Néstor Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2007 5,557,087
56 / 130
106 / 257
 Minority Néstor Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2009 1,679,084 8.8
14 / 127
70 / 257
 Minority Cristina Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2011 10,121,311 49.1
76 / 130
90 / 257
 Minority Cristina Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2013 7,487,839 33.2
42 / 127
132 / 257
 Majority Cristina Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2015 8,237,074
60 / 130
96 / 257
 Minority Cristina Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2019 11,606,411 45.3
64 / 130
119 / 257
 Minority Alberto Fernández(FdT—PJ)
2023 8,252,357 33.62
48 / 130
99 / 257
 Minority Sergio Massa(UP—FR)

Senate[edit]

Election year Votes % Seats won Total seats Position Presidency Note
2003 1,852,456 40.7
13 / 24
41 / 72
 Majority Eduardo Duhalde(PJ) including the other PJ factions
2005 3,572,361 45.1
14 / 24
14 / 72
 Minority Néstor Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2007 1,048,187
8 / 24
22 / 72
 Minority Néstor Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2009 756,695
4 / 24
12 / 72
 Minority Cristina Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2011 5,470,241 54.6
13 / 24
24 / 72
 Minority Cristina Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2013 1,608,866 32.1
11 / 24
40 / 72
 Majority Cristina Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2015 2,336,037 32.72
12 / 24
39 / 72
 Majority Cristina Kirchner(FPV—PJ)
2019 2,263,221 40.16
13 / 24
39 / 72
 Majority Alberto Fernández(FdT—PJ)
2021 7,47,,030 31.67
9 / 24
35 / 72
 Majority Alberto Fernández(FdT—PJ)
2023 4,739,859 40.82
10 / 24
33 / 72
 Minority Sergio Massa(UP—FR)

Criticism[edit]

Kirchnerism has encountered opposition from various sectors of Argentine society, which tend to criticize its personalism.[61]

In 2012, there was a massive anti-Kirchnerism protest in several cities within Argentina and also in several Argentinian embassies around the world. It became known as8N.

In 2015, whenForeign Policywas discussing corruption in Latin America it was stated that:[62]

The viceroys of the colonial era set the pattern. They centralised power and bought the loyalty of local interest groups. [...]Caudillos,dictatorsand elected presidents continued the tradition of personalising power. Venezuela'schavismoand thekirchnerismoof Ms Fernández are among today's manifestations.

In an editorial published in October 2015,The Economistexpressed the following view about the situation in Argentina:[63]

Argentina needs change. As Ms Fernández slips out of office the economy is starting to crumble. Currency controls and trade restrictions [...] are choking productivity; inflation hovers at around 25%. [...] Argentina cannot seek external financing until it ends its standoff with creditors who rejected a debt-restructuring plan. Unless the new president quickly reverses Ms Fernández's populist policies, a crisis is inevitable "

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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Bibliographies[edit]

  • Fraga, Rosendo(2010).Fin de ciKlo: ascenso, apogeo y declinación del poder kirchnerista[End of the cycle: rise, heyday and decline of Kirchner's power] (in Spanish). Buenos Aires: Ediciones B.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kirchnerism&oldid=1233335938"