Kirchner was governor of the Patagonian Province of Santa Cruz, a vast area that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes. It is cold and for the most part barren. But it has oil. And it has valuable minerals. It has fishing and lots of good sheep. A lot more sheep than people. The population is just under 200,000.
As Governor, Kirchner had the province's constitution changed so that he could be re-elected over and over again. He practically owned the province and exerted his dictatorial powers accordingly. The media was muzzled and the members of his family were (and still are) in all the top government positions.
Kirchner's wife, Cristina Fernandez was senator for Santa Cruz, but soon after her husband became president with 22% of the votes, she was magically transformed into Senator for the Province of Buenos Aires, the richest in the country.
Kirchner now rules by decree, violating the constitution by totally by-passing Congress. Opposition is weak, almost non-existent. From dictator ruling over 200,000 souls, he has now become dictator of a nation of 38-million.
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