Relationships: Christina Fenández de Kirchner and Hugo Chávez By: Carolyn Collantes, Kadi Grigg, Alexandra White

Argentina: Quick Facts Rich in agriculture sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, gapes, corn, livestock, wheat Industries food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, steel, metallurgy, petrochemicals, textiles Labor Force by sector agriculture: 5% industry: 23% services: 72%  Unemployment rate 7.9% as 2010- rank 84 Population below poverty 30% as 2010

Christina Fernández de Kirchner 55th President of Argentina 1st elected female president Positions within the government Relationship to the USA Maletinazo (suitcase scandal)

Venezuela: Quick Facts Agricultural Goods corn, sugar cane, rice, bananas, coffee, beef, pork, eggs, fish Industries petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles, iron ore mining, steel Labor Force by Sector agriculture: 13% industry: 23% services: 63% (1997) Unemployment Rate 12.1 % as 2010- rank 130 Population below poverty 37.9%- yearend 2005

Hugo Chávez Feb. 1999:Takes office after winning election July 2000: reelected under new constitution for 6 year term April 2002: Abortive Coup. Chavez returns to power after 2 days Aug. 2004:Wins recall referendum on weather he should serve the rest of his term Dec. 2006: wins election with 63% of vote Dec. 2007: loses constitutional referendum of a proposal to allow the president to run indefinitely  Feb. 2009: Wins referendum that lifts term limits on elected officials Sept. 2010: wins majority in national assembly but opposition gets 40% of seats

Is Hugo Chávez buying Argentina's support? - Aug. 4 2007: Venezuelan-American businessman Guido Alejandro Antonini Wilson - $790,550 in unmarked $50 bills - Kirchner tried to convince Chavez to accept some of the political cost of the suitcase affair - Chavez refused to take it

What does Chávez get in return? - Venezuela has sold diesel to cover serious shortages of the fuel - Venezuela has bought more than $4 billion in Argentine debt - Chávez is bailing out a troubled Argentine dairy company.   -Agricultural know-how - Argentine technology - A supportive partner for ambitious regional projects like a bank, gas pipeline and gas producers' cartel - Politically he gets a key stage from which to grandstand to the world

Political Gains - Cultivated a new client state and pull Argentina into his ideological orbit   - Member of Latin America’s “Chávez bloc.” -Ability to organize other anti-U.S. rally - Argentines are among the most negative about U.S. leadership in the world

"Cristina is the woman that this country needs" - While speaking at a ceremony in La Plata, Hugo Chávez showed his support for President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and her potential reelection in October.  - “she is the woman this country needs in order for the ship to maintain a steady course.”

Cristina Kirchner and Chavez Peronist ideals leads her to being friends with him.

Unity Kirchner thinks that there should be unity within the Latin American countries More likely to support Chavez against other world powers

Economy 2001 Bailout by Venezuela of Argentina and Cristina's husband leads to more loyalty.

Discussion Questions: Do you think that the support of Chavez and Venezuela will hurt Cristina Kirchner in the next election? Which person in this relationship benefits more and why?