On September 1, local time, Argentina's current vice president Cristina Kirchner was almost assassinated at the doorstep of his home. A man mixed in with supporters pulled out a pistol, pressed it against Christina's head, and pulled the trigger, but for reasons "unclear" the bullet did not come out of the chamber. The man was then subdued by the crowd.
Cristina has been called one of Argentina's most influential political figures. She was argentina's first democratically elected female president and the first lady of Argentina. Recently, however, there has been opposition in Argentina, where prosecutors have accused her of embezzlement. Her supporters dismissed it as political persecution.
After the assassination attempt, tens of thousands of Argentines gathered in the capital Buenos Aires on September 2 at the call of Argentine President Fernandez to stand in solidarity with the vice president and condemn the violence.
On September 2, local time, Argentine Vice President Cristina greeted her supporters outside her residence. Photo/Visual China
The gun was loaded and failed to fire
Cristina is a well-known figure in Argentine politics. She served two consecutive terms as President of Argentina from 2007 to 2015, becoming the country's first democratically elected female president. Her husband was the late former President of Argentina, Néstor Carlos Kirchner (president of Argentina from 2003 to 2007). Some political analysts believe that Christina may return to the presidency next year.
At the end of August, Argentine prosecutors accused Cristina of embezzlement, a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison, while barring her from running in elections. Christina denied the allegations, while her supporters called them political persecution. Since then, hundreds of people have gathered every day outside Christina's residence in Buenos Aires to express their support for her.
On September 1, local time, Argentine Vice President Cristina was pointed at the head with a gun. Photo/Visual China
Christina returned home at around 9 p.m. on Sept. 1, and there were a large crowd of supporters gathered in front of her house as before. She greeted her supporters and shook hands one by one. Local television stations set up cameras to broadcast Christina's interactions with supporters live, but the camera recorded a thrilling scene.
Television footage showed a man in the crowd suddenly pulling out a pistol and holding it against Christina's head. Christina subconsciously stooped down to dodge. The person next to him first showed a shocked expression, and immediately reacted, and then rushed up to control the man with the gun.
According to Reuters, the attacker had pulled the trigger at the time, but the gun failed to fire. The attackers were using an Argentine-made Bielsa 380 pistol, loaded with 5 rounds of ammunition and already loaded.
The New York Times said it was also a shocking moment in Argentina's chaotic political history , when a man tried to assassinate the vice president on camera , nearly causing tragedy.
"Christina is still alive, and for technical reasons that are unclear, the weapon with five bullets failed to fire." In a national address on the evening of Sept. 1, Argentine President Fernández said it was the worst event since Argentina restored democracy.
The attackers may be linked to far-right ideas
According to the Associated Press, the attacker who tried to assassinate Argentina's vice president was a 35-year-old Brazilian man ( also known as a Brazilian Argentine ) named Fernando Andres Sabag Montiel. The man is currently detained on suspicion of attempted murder. Police said they were investigating whether he had committed the crime alone or had a larger conspiracy behind it, but had not yet revealed the man's possible motives for the crime.
According to the New York Times, Montair's tax register shows that he is a ride-hailing driver, and extrapolating from his tattoos and social media accounts that he has a strong interest in a variety of extreme ideas. Monteel has liked dozens of social accounts about the far right, conspiracy theories, mysticism, alchemy, and many mystical religions.
On September 2, local time, police stood guard outside the residence of Argentine Vice President Cristina. Photo/Visual China
University of Buenos Aires historian Boris Matthias Grinchip says these elements are often a collection of interests of some far-right. "It's like a grocery basket in a supermarket," Grundhip said, "and when I saw this 'basket,' I knew he was a far-right guy." ”
Monteel's friends described him to the local media as "eccentric, unreliable, dishonest but not violent." Local media also said police searched Monte'er's apartment on the outskirts of the city and found about 100 rounds of ammunition.
At the call of the president, tens of thousands of people rallied
Funder Ernandez announced that Argentina would be on a national holiday on September 2. Fernandez called on the public to "show support for Christina and condemn the violence." So tens of thousands of Argentines, waving flags and holding large photographs of the vice president, came to the Plaza de Mayo in downtown Buenos Aires for a rally.
Oscar Dulupi, a 64-year-old railroad worker who attended the rally, blamed political divisions for the violence. "It's crazy, this society has gotten a little out of control, hate ideas are becoming more and more intense, and some people are starting to choose violent attacks."
On September 2, local time, people gathered in front of the residence of Argentine Vice President Cristina. Photo/Visual China
Another congregator said: "We Argentines should respect each other, not promote hatred, it is the accumulation of hatred that leads to the emergence of attackers." Also supporters chanted: "If anyone dares to touch Christina, we will create chaos!" ”
According to the Associated Press, some politicians from Argentina's ruling party have also accused opposition parties and the media of inciting violence. Argentina's opposition party refutes that the ruling party used the assassination attempt for political gain. Patricia Bullrich, the leader of Argentina's opposition, said: "Instead of seriously investigating this serious incident, they have blamed the opposition and the media, ordering a national holiday to mobilize activists." ”
The Associated Press quoted political analysts as saying that the assassination of the vice president in Argentina's deeply polarized political environment has quickly sparked new conspiracy theories. "One faction insists that the whole incident is real, while the other believes it is self-directed."
Beijing News reporter Chen Yikai
Edited by Chen Jing Proofreader Fu Chunyan