Kirchner outlines Argentine tasks

Argentina's president-elect Cristina Kirchner has said her victory in Sunday's election was a recognition of her husband's success as president.

She told Argentine TV her priorities included tackling poverty and pushing for further Latin American integration, especially in energy issues.

Mrs Kirchner also wished US Sen Hillary Clinton, to whom she has been compared, well in her own presidential campaign.

Mrs Kirchner is due to take over from husband Nestor Kirchner on 10 December.

Mrs Kirchner, who rarely gave interviews during the campaign, spoke to Argentina's Todo Noticias network on Monday, hours after her election victory.

She won nearly 45% of the vote, ahead of her nearest rival, former lawmaker Elisa Carrio, on 23%.

Mrs Kirchner acknowledged that her husband, who oversaw Argentina's recovery from the economic crisis of 2001, had played a major role in her win.

"[Mr] Kirchner has been the flagship of this project as the president of all Argentines. It's very important what President Kirchner has achieved in four-and-a-half years in office and this triumph is part of that."

Mrs Kirchner was also quick to defend her husband's handling of inflation, which is officially put at a little under 9% a year but which is unofficially thought to be as high as 20%.

Among her priorities, she said, would be tackling unemployment and poverty, and working to improve health care and education.

Woman power

She also said it was important to strengthen the regional trade bloc, Mercosur, which groups Argentina with Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and which has invited oil-rich Venezuela to join.

Mrs Kirchner would not be drawn on what Mr Kirchner will do once he is out of office.

"He's going to do what he has always done. He's a political animal. He's a man who deeply loves politics and really loves his country and has a great commitment to Argentina," she said.

There has been speculation that Mr Kirchner may return to run in the 2011 election.

During the interview, Mrs Kirchner said she was happy to be compared to US Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, both law graduates, senators and former first ladies.

"Everything seems to indicate that she is the favourite of the Americans," said Mrs Kirchner, Argentina's first elected female president.

"And why not? Another woman wouldn't be bad."