Supporters of Vice President Argentina clash with police: “If you come to Cristina, the whole mess will break out” | Abroad

Thousands of supporters of Fernández de Kircher took to the streets across the country on Saturday to support the politician. Fernández de Kirchner faces up to 12 years in prison and a ban on public office. The former president (2007-2015) is said to have headed a criminal organization during her mandate and confiscated a billion euros from the state.

Together with her late husband and ex-president Néstor Kirchner, she delivered a whole series of government contracts to befriended building contractors. Some of the increased construction costs then flowed back to the Kirchners. The vice president has always denied those allegations.

The demonstrators claim that Fernández de Kirchner is the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt. Kirchner, 69, heads the left wing of the Peronist coalition that has ruled Argentina since late 2019.

The largest demonstration took place on Saturday at the vice president’s apartment in Buenos Aires. Since the sentence of the Public Prosecution Service, early this week, protesters have been bivouacking in the street of the vice president’s home. This was accompanied by percussion, chants, smoke from improvised street barbecues and the setting off of fireworks, much to the dissatisfaction of most local residents.

The posh residential area, Recoleta, is known as a stronghold of the national opposition, who rule the Argentine capital. The city police had therefore set up crowd barriers to prevent another large gathering.

However, the Peronists take this as a provocation. That is why several leaders of Fernández de Kirchner’s political movement called for protests at the apartment again. Thousands of militants responded. “When you come to Cristina, the whole mess will break out” came from countless throats in Buenos Aires.

In the course of Saturday afternoon, when the protesters tried to knock down the crush barriers, the police intervened with tear gas, rubber bullets and a water cannon.

Mayor of Buenos Aires Horacio Larreta did not have a good word for Fernández de Kirchner on Saturday: “The vice president is looking for a solution to her legal problems on the street, by playing Argentinians against each other. We will not allow that.”

According to Argentine President Alberto Fernández (no relation, ed.), the city council is responsible for the riots: “The police operation created a climate of insecurity and intimidation”. Several human rights organizations also complained: “We are very concerned about the way the Vice President is being persecuted and the repression today. That shouldn’t happen again. In a democracy, people have the right to demonstrate and defend their ideas.” The manifesto was signed by the Foolish Mothers, among others.

Later that evening, the vice president descended from her penthouse to the street to address her supporters: “Even if I live a thousand years, I wouldn’t have enough time to thank you.” After heavy criticism of the opposition, she called on her supporters to go home: “It’s been a long day”.

On September 5, it is the turn of the defense in the corruption case against the vice president. A verdict is expected by the end of this year.