Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner dismisses speculation about her health in first public speech

Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has made her first public appearance in six weeks, ending a long silence that led to questions about her health following brain surgery.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner was welcomed by hundreds of supporters at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires.

In a televised address, she announced a plan to help unemployed young people.

The president dismissed speculation about her health and criticized Argentina’s media.

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had an operation on October 8 to remove a blood clot from her brain and returned to work on November 18.

But she had not spoken in public since a high-profile ceremony in Buenos Aires on December 10.

“They wanted to create the impression among the Argentine people that I couldn’t do it anymore,” she said, referring to the media, which is largely hostile to her government.

“The truth is I had some problems, but I would like to see who, facing the same problems, would have continued to govern for 40 million Argentines,” the president said.

“I hope nobody criticizes this nationally televised address after demanding my presence so much,” she added ironically.

The opposition said Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had “disappeared” as the country’s economic crisis worsened.