Video shows assassination attempt on Argentina’s Vice President, citizens march in the street
Immediately after the attempted assassination, an estimated half a million people took to the streets in Buenos Aires. Leaders of the ruling and opposition parties called for “improved democratic coexistence” to strengthen democracy. President Fernández urged, “We can disagree, we can have deep disagreements, but hate speech cannot take place because it breeds violence and there is no chance of violence coexisting with democracy.”
- 2 years ago
September 3, 2022
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina ꟷ On September 2, 2022, a man walked through a crowd and pointed a gun directly at the head and face of Argentina Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner as she greeted citizens outside her home. A video captured the moment when the man pulled the trigger, the gun clicks, and Kirchner covers her face and ducks. The gun did not go off.
Warning: the following video may be disturbing to some audiences.
Argentina President Alberto Fernandez said this was “the most serious incident we have been through,” since the country became a democracy in 1983. Vice President Kirchner served as a governor, the first lady when her late husband was President, and then President herself from 2007-2015. She represents the leftist movement in Argentina and speaks out vehemently about human rights abuses. Under her and her husband, gay marriage became legal in the country, and she passed tariffs protecting local industry and employment.
Fernando Andrés Sabag Montiel, 35, was arrested at 9 a.m. for attempted murder. He refused to testify or answer interrogation questions. Though born in Brazil, Montiel’s grew up in Argentina since 1993 and has an Argentinian mother.
Immediately after the attempted assassination, an estimated half a million people took to the streets in Buenos Aires. Leaders of the ruling and opposition parties called for “improved democratic coexistence” to strengthen democracy. President Fernández urged, “We can disagree, we can have deep disagreements, but hate speech cannot take place because it breeds violence and there is no chance of violence coexisting with democracy.”
Kirchner is facing what she calls an unfair attack in the case of corruption charges levied against her. Some news sources cited those charges as a possible motive, but nothing is confirmed. A very public previous attempt to charge her with corruption in 2019 failed when the charges were dismissed in 2021.
All photos courtesy of Eva Valezquez. Click here for more stories out of Latin America.
