Argentine President Cristina Fernandez (2nd R), her husband, outgoing President Nestor Kirchner (L), daughter Florencia (R) and son Maximo, appear on stage in front of the Casa Rosada Government Palace in Buenos Aires December 10, 2007. [Agencies]
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner sworn in as Argentina s president on Monday for four-year term after winning elections on October 28. She received the sash of office from her husband, Nestor Kirchner, the outgoing head of state and became the first woman to be elected president of Argentina. Chants of "Viva Cristina" erupted as Kirchner effectively traded her position as first lady for that of president. Kirchner, a social-democrat who is often compared to New York Senator Hillary Clinton, was sworn in before the two chambers of Congress and in the presence of 160 foreign delegations.
In her first speech as president, Kirchner vowed to wage a war on poverty.
"There will be no definite triumph as long as there is poverty," she said.
The new president hailed her husband s government, which she said battled tirelessly against unemployment and poverty.
The new president has also vowed to follow the political continuity.
The first-lady-turned-president made it clear her husband would not fade into the political background.
"For me and for all Argentines, he will also continue being president," she said recently.
As Argentina s first elected woman president, she was born in La Plata in Buenos Aires province on Feb. 19, 1953, and studied law at the School of Legal and Social Sciences of La Plata National University in the 1970s.
She married Nestor Kirchner, her fellow university student, in 1975 before moving to the province of Santa Cruz, where the couple opened a law firm.
Nestor Kirchner, who remained popular throughout his presidency, has not explained why he stepped aside for his wife instead of seeking another four-year term.