In a recent corruption trial against Kirchner, prosecutors had demanded twelve years in prison and a lifetime ban from public office.
(Photo: Reuters)
Buenos Aires According to current head of state Alberto Fernández, an assassination attempt was made on former Argentine President Cristina Kirchner. In front of her house in the capital Buenos Aires, a man held a loaded gun in the face of today’s Vice President on Thursday evening (local time).
Fernández later reported in a television speech that the alleged assassin also pulled the trigger. No shot was fired. The 69-year-old was unharmed. The suspect was arrested.
The incident happened around 9:00 p.m. (2:00 a.m. CEST) on Thursday evening when Kirchner was returning to her home in the elegant Recoleta district. The attacker aimed at the former president’s head and pulled the trigger from a crowd, Fernández said in his speech. “Cristina is still alive because the gun, which contained five bullets, did not fire for a reason that has not yet been technically confirmed.” It was the most serious incident since Argentina’s return to democracy in 1983.
There are also videos of the incident. You can see someone aiming at Kirchner from close range and she ducks. The suspected assassin was arrested. A pistol was secured from the 35-year-old, Interior Minister Aníbal Fernández told the newspaper “Clarín”.
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It was a native Brazilian, it said. The background was initially unclear. Kirchner was President of the South American country from 2007 to 2015. She was married to the late former President Néstor Kirchner.
Fernandez declared Friday a holiday because social peace in the country had been disturbed. The population should be given the opportunity to speak out “in peace and harmony” in defense of democracy and peace and to express solidarity with Kirchner.
Argentina vice president corruption scandal
Chaotic scenes had taken place in front of Kirchner’s house in the past few days. Numerous supporters are currently camping on the streets in support of the popular politician.
In a recent corruption trial against Kirchner, prosecutors had demanded twelve years in prison and a lifetime ban from public office. She is said to have been the leader of a criminal organization and brought the state the equivalent of around one billion euros.
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