Cristina Fernández de Kirchner

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was sworn in as president of Argentina on December 10, 2007. Prior to becoming president, she was senator for the Province of Buenos Aires and chairperson of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Affairs.

She began her political career while still a student at the Universidad Nacional de la Plata, when she joined the Justicialist Movement and committed herself to the struggle for human rights. In 1989 she became state legislator of the Province of Santa Cruz, a position to which she was re-elected in 1993, and chairperson of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs, Power and Regulations of the State House of the Province of Santa Cruz, a position she held until 1995.

In 1990 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner became vice speaker of the State House of the Province of Santa Cruz. In 1994 she was elected constituent for the National Convention for the Reform of the Argentine Constitution. Then in 1995 she resigned as state legislator to serve as senator for the Province of Santa Cruz from 1995 to 1997, a position she held again from 2001 to 2005. From 1997 to 2001 she was congresswoman for the Province of Santa Cruz and vice chairperson of the House Committee on Education. In 1998 she was a constituent for the Provincial Convention for the Reform of the Province of Santa Cruz Constitution. In 2000 she was vice chairperson of the House Special Committee on the Investigation of Illegal Activity related to money laundering.

Source: University Programs and Events Planning Resources, September 2009