Tuesday, Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner came out of a successful surgery to remove blood from the surface of her brain. She is expected to make a full recovery, says government spokesman Alfredo Scoccimarro. He reports that, “She is in a very good mood.”
But, with key mid-term elections approaching and court battles raging with the nation’s “holdout” creditors who are demanding $1.3 billion back from Argentina, the timing may have been inopportune for a troubled nation. Argentines are increasingly frustrated over high inflation rates and government-imposed controls on currency to stall the flight of capital from the country.
Subdural hematomas don’t wait however, so when diagnosed Saturday the advice was to rest (Fernandez is pictured at a Saturday rally). That advice was changed when Fernandez complained of tingling in her left arm on Monday, prompting the surgery. The apparent cause was a fall in August, in which she hit her head.
Presidential supporters gathered outside the hospital where the surgery took place, Favaloro Foundation in Buenos Aires, and some wielded signs saying, “Hang In There Cristina,” and, “The Country Is With You.”
Scoccimarro said the president, “sends greeting to all of you and would like to thank you and her medical team.” The medical team overseeing the president released a statement that the operation was without complications. The operation was to drain pooled blood from between the brain and skull.
Fernandez has a reputation for being a micro-manager and experts imagine she’ll be running the country, even from the hospital bed. Her public duties, for now, were assumed by Vice President Amado Boudou who returned early from planned trips to Brazil and France. When she fell ill on Saturday, Fernandez was speechifying in preparation for the 27 October mid-term primary, supporting her political allies. Congressional control is up for grabs and Fernandez’ party control over the legislative body could be in jeopardy.
Fernandez has two years left as president of Argentina. She was originally elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011.
[Image via presidential website.]