Argentinian president to be operated on in January before taking 20 days of medical leave
The Argentinian president, Cristina Kirchner, is to be operated on in January for thyroid cancer, according to a spokesman.
Spokesman Alfredo Scoccimarro said the cancer was discovered on 22 December, and follow-up tests showed that it has not spread to her lymph nodes, nor has it metastasized.
He said Fernandez will undergo surgery on 4 January and then take 20 days of medical leave, during which the vice-president, Amado Boudou, will run the country.
The operation on the president will take place at Buenos Aires' Austral hospital.
Kirchner, 58, who went from being a senator during the presidency of her husband, Néstor, to becoming the first elected female president of Argentina in 2007, was re-elected in October with one of the widest victory margins in her country's history.
A president from 2003 to 2007, he had been a contender to succeed her but died from a heart attack in October last year at the age of 60.
During this year's elections, which she won on the back of strong economic growth, Fernandez secured nearly 54% of vote, with her closest challenger, the socialist candidate Hermes Binner, on just 17%.
Earlier this year, she accused the media of spreading rumours about her health, saying: "They will print anything every time my blood pressure drops."
Her comments came after reports in October that she was forced to cancel scheduled activities for a third time this year because of low blood pressure.