Nestor Kirchner Dead at 60

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Former Argentine PresidentNestor Kirchner - the most powerful politician in the country with his wife, the current leader Cristina Fernandez - died suddenly on Wednesday after suffering a heart attack, said the president.

Nestor Kirchner, 60, died after he was rushed in critical condition in hospital Formenti Calafate, while having a severe heart attack, said the president.

"It was sudden death," his personal physician, Luis Buonomo, told El Calafate, where Nestor Kirchner and his wife had gone to rest and wait for their turn to be counted in the census of the nation. Buonomo said an official medical report would be published later in the day.

He was accompanied at all times by his wife, the presidency said.

Nestor Kirchner, 60, underwent an angioplasty after a heart attack in September, but was still a likely candidate for the presidential election next year. He was also secretary general of the alliance in South America known as UNASUR, as a congressman and as head of the Peronist party.

The news shocked Argentines, who by law stayed home Wednesday to be counted. Nestor Kirchner's supporters planned a mass rally on Wednesday evening outside the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace of Argentina. Already, dozens of Argentines showed in the Plaza de Mayo in front of the palace, stood silently in mourning.

"There will be a demonstration in honor Cristina Nestor Kirchner and show that we are with her, her support," said the head of the Movement Evita, Emilio Persico. "In those days, we will demonstrate in the streets we are millions who will replace Nestor Kirchner."

After a private ceremony in Calafate, his body went to Buenos Aires to lay in state in Congress.

Nestor Kirchner has worked hand in hand with his wife to keep the ruling party hold on power. Even more than Fernandez, he was considered the heir of Argentina Juan Domingo Peron strong one of the few people able to manage Argentina unruly and chaotic political scene.

It was Nestor Kirchner who made hard work of managing relations with trade unions, advocacy groups, governors and mayors - the politicians who move thousands of voters whose loyalty is essential to maintaining the public policy.

With him gone, Fernandez is likely to encounter many new threats to his leadership.

leader of Argentina's most powerful union, Hugo Moyano, quickly expressed his allegiance, the emergency control at a meeting of the General Labour Confederation, or CGT.

"We express our total support for the duration of Cristina Nestor Kirchner, so that the political and economic model of her husband started in 2003 going forward."

Juan Carlos Dante Gullo, a congressman from the ruling party, said: "It will leave a gaping hole in Argentine politics. We have to follow his example. Argentina has lost one of its greatest men."

The leader of the Grandmothers human rights of the Plaza de Mayo, Estela de Carlotto, "said Nestor Kirchner" gave his life for his country. "

"Our country needs this man so well. It is essential," she told Radio Continental.

Nestor Kirchner was President from 2003-2007, bringing the Argentine economic crisis and to encourage judicial changes set in motion dozens of human rights trials involving hundreds of digits of the dictatorship era that had already received amnesty.

As secretary general of the Union of South American Republics, or UNASUR, Nestor Kirchner mediation of border disputes between many Venezuela and Colombia. the leaders of both countries have mourned his loss Wednesday.

"Oh my dear Cristina ... how sad! What a huge loss to Argentina and our America! May Nestor Kirchner live forever!" Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez tweeted.

The Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos called for a moment of silence in honor of Bogota Nestor Kirchner.

"This is a great loss to Argentina and a great loss to the continent," he said, adding he would try to reach Fernandez to share condolences.

President Barack Obama also praised the important role of Nestor Kirchner in Argentina and Unasur. "Michelle and my thoughts and prayers are with President Fernandez de Nestor Kirchner and their children," he said.

Born in Patagonia province of Santa Cruz, Mr. Nestor Kirchner and his wife were active in the Peronist party as young students from La Plata, where he graduated in 1976. With the military firmly ruling the country, the young couple married and worked as a private lawyer in the provincial capital, raising two children - Máximo and Florencia. After restoration of democracy in 1983, Nestor Kirchner came into public service, first as a provincial head of pensions, and then as mayor of Rio Gallegos.

In 1991 he became governor of Santa Cruz and Fernandez was elected to the Provincial Legislature, pushing through the re-election indefinitely and fill the courts with judges sympathetic provincial. In 1995 he was re-elected governor by an overwhelming majority, to lay the groundwork for entering politics at national level.

When the country suffered economic crisis and failure of the world record in 2001, political unrest and street protests held a series of presidents serving their terms and forced a new election in 2003.

Nestor Kirchner, again, a little-known provincial governor, was the choice of outgoing president, Eduardo Duhalde, but earned only 22 percent of the vote, behind former President Carlos Menem, with 24 percent in the first round. After the polls then showed Nestor Kirchner overwhelmingly won a second round, Menem and Nestor Kirchner were abandoned became president-elect.

During his presidency, Nestor Kirchner managed the economic recovery of Argentina, with a growth of 8 percent per year, but has maintained a frosty relationship with international lenders and forced the holders of bad loans in Argentina to accept much less than they invested in bonds.

His critics say the growth reflects global trends and the combination of depressed wages and high international prices for cereals are the main exports from Argentina.

Outside the palace Wednesday handwritten signs hung people on the fence of the palace. "Thanks Nestor Kirchner. You put Argentina on its feet. We will miss you," one read. Another, on the letterhead, said: "Be strong Cristina."

"We are here to support Cristina," said Claudia Farias, who had just arrived fromArgentina Santiago del Estero province in the north where the word spread of the death of Nestor Kirchner. "It's going to need our help to keep the country going forward, God willing. "