Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Argentina’s First Lady, claimed victory in the Sunday polls. She is to become the first elected woman president according to the results of yesterday’s election.

More than 90 % of the polling stations showed that the first lady – wife of President Nestor Kirchner, won with almost 45 %, in comparison with 23% of Elisa Carrio, and 17% of Roberto Lavagna, former economy minister.

Media sources quoted Mrs. Kirchner as saying: “We have won amply. But this, far from putting us in a position of privilege, puts us instead in a position of greater responsibilities and obligations.”

Mrs. Kirchner claimed credit for the economic progress of Argentina back in 2001, during her husband’s presidency, when the economy grew by 50%.

Ms. Carrio congratulated her in a television broadcast saying: “We congratulate and recognize her victory.”

Most Argentines believe that her husband will get involved in her government behind the scenes. Many of them see the couple as one political power, but each of them having their own style.

Her makeup and long hair should not fool anybody. CFK, as she is known, is a skilled politician and made it on her own in the parliament, without the help of her husband. In her campaign, she was compared to Hillary Clinton, both being lawyers, first ladies and then senators.

She is the second female president elected in the Western Hemisphere, after Chile elected Michelle Bachelett as president in 2006. Mrs. Kirchner is expected to sustain leftwing populist economic policies, like price controls.

One of the many challenges that she will have to face will be maintaining good relations with President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and improving relations with the U.S.

According to the Guardian UK, Mrs. Kirchner said in the morning after casting her ballot that she was glad that she could vote because of the dictatorship in 1976-1983. She said: “I’m part of a generation that grew up in a country in which nobody could say anything. So we value this in a very special way.”