Argentinian Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner narrowly avoided an assassination attempt outside of her home in Buenos Aires Thursday night when a suspect pointed a gun point-blank at her and attempted to fire.
Authorities have detained the suspect. State-run news agencies identified the suspect as Fernando Andrés Zabak, a Brazilian citizen. However, officials have not confirmed the gunman's identity.
President Alberto Fernández called the attempted assassination “the most serious incident since we recovered democracy,” a reference to the 1983 Argentine general election, in a nationally broadcast message.
Fernández de Kirchner became the country's vice president in 2019 after previously serving as the 54th president of Argentina from 2007 to 2015 and the first lady during the tenure of her husband, Néstor Kirchner.
Critics of the vice president are claiming the assassination attempt was staged as a ploy for Fernández to gain sympathy. She is currently under investigation for corruption charges related to public works contracts awarded during her 2007-2015 administration. Prosecutors have called for a 12-year prison sentence as well as a lifelong ban on her ability to hold public office.
The vice president has denied all charges and supporters have gathered around her residence as a show of support. Over the weekend, supporters clashed with police when they attempted to remove them.
Fernández's allies have laid the blame on opposition leaders, claiming dangerous rhetoric about the vice president has stoked violence.
According to a report from Fox News:
Patricia Bullrich, president of the opposition Republican Proposal party, criticized the president, saying he is “playing with fire” because “instead of seriously investigating a serious incident, he accuses the opposition and the press, decreeing a national holiday to mobilize activists.”
This story is developing. Stay with American Liberty News for the latest updates.
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