By Canadian Press

Argentina’s Fernández releases memoir ahead of elections

Apr 28, 2019 | 12:01 PM

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Former Argentine President Cristina Fernández has published a new book filled with celebrity anecdotes and shots at her main political rival just months before presidential elections in what many are calling the launch of her bid to return to power.

The release of her memoir “Sincerely” sent supporters scurrying to bookstores Friday in search of a copy. Fernández, who was Argentina’s president from 2007 to 2015, has not formally declared her intention to run in October elections, but is seen as a possible challenger to conservative President Mauricio Macri.

Fernández, 66, was known for her interventionist and populist policies while in office. Some credit her for leading the country out of an economic crisis, while others blame her for creating its current woes.

In the book, the leftist leader analyzes her private life and allegations of corruption against her.

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“They did and continue to do everything they possibly can to destroy me. They believed that they would knock me down. It is clear that they do not know me,” Fernández writes on the back cover.

In the book, the former president describes Macri as “chaos” and says that because of this “Argentina must be put in order again.”

The two are fierce rivals and Fernandez is seen as the main contender to end his re-election hopes. Some polls suggest Fernandez could defeat him in a second round of voting if she officially throws her hat in the ring.

In the book, Fernández also describes the tense relations between her late husband and predecessor as Argentina’s president, Néstor Kirchner, and Buenos Aires Archbishop Jorge Bergoglio, who later became Pope Francis.

The book appears to be selling well in the bookstores.

“There are no more books; it’s incredible,” said 42-year-old Natalia Gret when she arrived at a Buenos Aires bookstore to buy a copy.

The first edition of 20,000 copies of “Sincerely,” which was released by Sudamericana publishing house, sold out and it is expected that another 20,000 will arrive at the counters on Monday.

Security Minister Patricia Bullrich compared Fernández to a scorpion who “suddenly appears with a book insulting the president.” The official in Macri’s government said the ex-president launched her election campaign with the book.

Fernández will present “Sincerely” on May 9 at the Buenos Aires Book Fair in what promises to be a political spectacle.

Almudena Calatrava, The Associated Press