The incident took place outside Kirchner’s home in the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital. There, a large crowd of supporters of the vice president had gathered, who had been demonstrating outside her house for days in support of Kirchner, who is embroiled in a corruption case. She faces a 12-year prison sentence and a ban from holding public office for alleged corruption when she was president of the country (2007-2015).
Video footage circulating on social media shows the man pointing his left hand holding the weapon at Kirchner and trying to pull the trigger from close range. However, the weapon refused. Kirchner collapsed, but was unharmed. The federal police, responsible for the security of the vice president, arrested the man almost immediately. The gun seized contained five bullets. It is currently under investigation by the Argentine police.
Former Argentina president Mauricio Macri wrote on Twitter that the “horrific attack” has fortunately not affected Kirchner. He does, however, request from the security services “immediate clarification” about how this could have happened. According to Argentine media, the security apparatus surrounding the former president would consist of more than 100 agents, the largest personal security system in Argentine history.
Over the weekend, clashes broke out between police and supporters of the vice president, who has repeatedly denied allegations of corruption.
Even if Kirchner were convicted, there is little chance that she will actually end up in jail. She will serve as Senate President until the end of 2023 and therefore enjoy parliamentary immunity.