'Goodbye and good riddance'

The economics may be questionable but the decision by Argentina's president to pay off the IMF has broad public support, writes Oliver Balch

Monday December 19, 2005

Four years ago, crisis-hit Argentinians took to the streets shouting "out with them all". Now they have seen part of their wish come true. In a surprise statement late last week, the Argentinian president, Néstor Kirchner, announced that his government would settle its outstanding $9.8bn debt (£5.5bn) with the IMF by the end of the year.

Speaking in front of a packed hall of businessmen, political supporters and trade unionists, Mr Kirchner blamed the lender for "failed political regimes and monetary systems".