Tens of thousands of supporters wept and cheered after cramming into Argentina's most famous square to bid farewell to President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.
As blue and white Argentine flags waved on a balmy night, the outgoing leader gave a speech that lauded her achievements throughout her eight years in office while delivering a withering parting shot at her successor.
In the latest salvo in their bitter war of words, Kirchner vowed to make life difficult for new President Mauricio Macri, who was inaugurated today.
'After midnight, I'll turn into a pumpkin': Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner delivers a farewell speech to supporters in front of Casa Rosada presidential residence in Buenos Aires hours before her leadership ended after two terms in office
Kirchner blasted the incoming administration in the same withering tones she aimed at opponents throughout her eight years in office
Parting shot: Kirchner also criticised a federal court ruling in a case brought by new President Mauricio Macri that determined her presidency ended at midnight, saying it would leave Argentina without a president until Macri's swearing-in at midday Thursday
Kirchner addressed the crowd on Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires amid criticism for her decision not to attend her successor's inauguration
Kirchner's supporters cry during a ceremony on her last day in office outside the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires
A man weeps while listening Argentina's outgoing President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's farewell speech at Casa Rosada
Emotional: For 12 years, Kirchner, and before her, late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, dominated the political landscape
A follower of Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez listens to her farewell speech in front of the presidential palace in Buenos Aires
Supporters of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner attend a farewell rally on her last day in power at the Government Palace
Tens of thousands of supporters cram into Argentina's most famous square to say goodbye to President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
Kirchner addressed the crowd on Plaza de Mayo in downtown Buenos Aires amid widespread criticism for her decision not to attend Macri's inauguration.
The two spent much of the last 10 days bickering over where the presidential baton and sash would be handed over.
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Macri wanted to receive them at the Casa Rosada presidential offices from Kirchner, while she insisted the handover happen in Congress.
Many Argentines viewed the argument as a national embarrassment. Without mentioning him by name, Kirchner framed the tiff as Macri's fault.
She also criticised a federal court ruling in a case brought by Macri that determined her presidency ended at midnight, saying it would leave Argentina without a president until Macri's swearing-in.
'I can't talk much because after midnight I'll turn into a pumpkin,' she joked.
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Supporters of Argentina President Cristina Kirchner hold a flag with a picture of her and late husband and former President Nestor Kirchner
Supporters demonstrate at Plaza de Mayo square in Buenos Aires during a farewell rally for President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
WHAT A TWIT! PETTY KIRCHNER REFUSES TO GIVE SUCCESSOR PRESIDENTIAL TWITTER ACCOUNT
Their ongoing tiff is regarded by many Argentinians as a national embarrassment.
Now it appears Cristina Kircher is even refusing to hand over the official Presidential Twitter account to her successor.
Hours before her leadership was due to end, the Casa Rosada official and verified Twitter account (@CasaRosadaAR) had suddenly had its name, biography and profile photograph.
Previously it read: 'Official Twitter account of the Argentine Republic's Government House.'
But now it says: 'Twitter account of the Néstor and Cristina Kirchner administrations, May 25th, 2003 to December 10, 2015. Unofficial Twitter account after December 10, 2015.'
While no rules have been broken, many will regard the official account as belonging to the State and not the government, reports The Bubble.
A Twitter employee also said the new administration could ask to be granted access to the account because it represents a verified government account.
Macri, who ran on free-market ideas, beat Kirchner's chosen successor by three percentage points in a run-off election last month.
The close result underscored the deep polarisation in Argentina and Kirchner has made clear she will continue to be heard, albeit from the sidelines of power.
At Macri's inauguration, the oath of office was administered by incoming Senate speaker Federico Pinedo, who had served as provisional president in the interim after the court ruling.
'This government will know how to defend freedom, which is essential for democracy,' Macri vowed in an address that laid out a sweeping agenda for change.
He also promised to fight 'untiringly for those who need it most,' a nod to his campaign pledges to keep the Kirchners' popular social programs.
The son of a wealthy businessman, he rose to fame as the president of Argentina's most popular football club, Boca Juniors, during a string of trophy wins.
The mayor of Buenos Aires since 2007, he won election at the head of a coalition called 'Let's Change.'
He has vowed to reboot Latin America's third-largest economy, which is slumping toward recession, by ending protectionist import restrictions, cutting heavy taxes on agricultural exports and scrapping the official exchange rate puffing up the Argentine peso.
In her speech last night, Kirchner talked about 'an agenda from the outside being imposed on the region', apparently referring to the United States and others she sees as enemies of Argentina.
During her two terms in power, Kirchner frequently accused other countries of meddling in the South American nation's affairs, though rarely provided details.
For 12 years, Kirchner, and before her, late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner, dominated the political landscape.
The couple rewrote the country's social contract, spending heavily on social programs for the poor while passing liberalising laws, such as legalising gay marriage in 2010.
They also aligned Argentina with socialist leaders like the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales, who attended Kirchner's farewell speech.
'She made me proud to be Argentine for the first time in my life,' said onlooker Pablo Vega. 'She defended the interests of the country more than anybody.'
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Argentina's new President Mauricio Macri and his wife Juliana Awada wave as they leave Congress after his swearing-in ceremony
Argentine President-elect Mauricio Macri and Vice president-elect Marta Gabriela Michetti hold hands during their inauguration ceremony
Argentinian President-elect Mauricio Macri waves to supporters with his wife Juliana Awada and his daughter Antonia at their apartment prior to his departure to attend the inauguration ceremony in Buenos Aires
Argentina's new President Mauricio Macri (right) jokes with Bolivia's President Evo Morales after an indoor soccer match in Buenos Aires
Argentina's new President Mauricio Macri (left) and Bolivia's President Evo Morales talk after an indoor soccer match in Buenos Aires
Argentina's new President Mauricio Macri acknowledges the audience as he attends the inauguration of incoming Buenos Aires Mayor Horacio Rodriguez Larreta in Buenos Aires. Macri's victory in a run-off last month turned Argentine politics on its head, ending 12 years of leftist populism under outgoing President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her late husband and predecessor, Nestor Kirchner
The 62-year-old, who was barred by the constitution from seeking a third consecutive term, leaves office with approval ratings around 40 per cent and some have speculated she might try to run again in 2019.
However, just as many Argentines love her, many also loathe her and the fight over the presidential transition brought out the frustration of detractors.
By Wednesday afternoon, her decision not to attend the inauguration had spawned a trending Twitter hashtag: #CFKVerguenzaMundial – or Kirchner's world shame.
Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (right) and her Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales unveil a figure of her husband late Argentine President Nestor Kirchner during a ceremony on her last day in office at the Casa Rosada Presidential Palace in Buenos Aires