A Sea of Protesters in Buenos Aires for Ex-President Kirchner
Multitudes rally in demand for the release of imprisoned ex-Argentine president Kirchner - Thousands rally in support of imprisoned former Argentine president Kirchner
Let's dive into the latest buzz in Argentina's bustling city, Buenos Aires. Over the weekend, a massive crowd, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands by Peronist party insiders, descended onto the city, reaching an astounding level not seen for months. Dubbed the "Argentina with Cristina" demonstration, this rally was organized by the Peronist party, trade unions, and other non-governmental organizations, with the 72-year-old former president, Cristina Kirchner, serving as the figurehead.
While the police didn't release any official figures, supporters of Kirchner breezed into the city by bus from various corners of Argentina, with the authorities maintaining a tight grip on the proceedings. The charismatic leader herself sent out an audio message to her supporters, asserting, "We will return, wiser, more united, and stronger. They can imprison me, but they cannot imprison the entire Argentine people."
The root of the protest revolves around the recent conviction of Kirchner, who served as Argentina's president from 2007 to 2015. In December 2022, a court sentenced her to six years in prison and lifetime political ban due to corruption charges that allegedly harmed the state. The Supreme Court confirmed the judgment last week, but on Tuesday, another court granted Kirchner the leeway to serve her sentence under house arrest, sparing her from a prison term.
The heart of the controversy centers around public tenders in the southern province of Santa Cruz, including during Kirchner's presidency. From the get-go, Kirchner argued that the proceedings were politically motivated. Although she remains a formidable adversary to ultra-liberal President Javier Milei who took office in late 2023, it's worth noting that Kirchner is the most significant political opponent yet to emerge.
Argentina, at present, finds itself in a whirlwind of political turbulence marked by polarization and social unrest. While recent protests in Buenos Aires have commanded attention, they generally haven't been pertaining to Kirchner per se. The elephant in the room remains the imminent legislative elections at provincial, municipal, and national levels, which are set to shape Argentina's political future for the next few years.
- Cristina Kirchner, the convicted former Argentine president, is the figurehead of the "Argentina with Cristina" demonstration that took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with tens of thousands of her supporters gathering in Plaza de Mayo.
- Despite being sentenced to six years in prison and a lifetime political ban for corruption charges, Kirchner's political impact can still be felt, even amidst Argentina's ongoing war-and-conflicts and political upheaval, as she remains a significant adversary in the country's general news landscape.
