The Associated Press is reporting that Argentine President Cristina Fernandez urged investigators Monday to determine responsibility for last week’s deadly train crash soon, and hinted she may move toward renationalizing railways.
Fernandez also took on those who criticized her for waiting five days to comment publicly on the tragedy that killed 51 people and injured more than 700 in Argentina’s capital. Saying she knows death and pain intimately, she said no one should expect her to offer simplistic solutions or pose for photographs with survivors.
“I will never speculate with death,” Fernandez said in a speech that made repeated references to her late husband and predecessor as president, Nestor Kirchner.
Fernandez described her government as the best protector of the people, and while she never used the word “nationalize” in her speech, she argued forcefully for government-run solutions to Argentina’s challenges.
Fixing the deteriorating commuter rail system will be complex and costly, requiring huge investments from a strong and well-funded national government, the president said.
But “we need to bring back the railroad system we had in Argentina,” she added, drawing strong applause from a crowd gathered in the northern city of Rosario to celebrate the bicentennial of the creation of Argentina’s flag.
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