Buenos Aires, March 2 (teleSUR-RHC)-- President Cristina Fernandez addressed the Argentine Congress on Sunday for the last time before the end of her term in office, highlighting the gains made during her administration.
Thousands of supporters gathered in the streets surrounding Congress to listen to Fernandez's speech. Ranging from unemployment to foreign debt, the president outlined facts and figures showing the success of policies carried out during both her husband's -- the late President Nestor Kirchner -– and her own administration.
“This model (by both governments) made work, employment and industrial development the key elements to growth,” explained Fernandez, after showing that over 6 million jobs have been created since 2003.
The president also highlighted the situation Argentina was facing when her husband began to serve, with an historic foreign debt that had caused an economic catastrophe in 2001.
“Never again will our governments get themselves into debts to pay other debts. If we acquire any new debt it will be for development projects, but not for the gains of the international financial system,” she said. “We have ended Argentina's debt.”
Furthermore, the president highlighted that Argentina today has the highest minimum wage in Latin America, an achievement she says has only been possible by implementing social welfare policies and increasing income equality.