Opinion

The assassination attempt against Cristina Kirchner is a warning for Latin America

The failed attempt to murder Argentina’s vice president is a worrying sign of how violent the region’s divisive politics have become. This is most evident in Brazil, where President Bolsonaro has shown no desire to ease political tensions

The assassination attempt against Cristina Kirchner is a warning for Latin America
Peronists on Friday staged a massive rally at Plaza de Mayo square, repudiating the Sep. 1 attack against Cristina Kirchner. Photo: Gabriel Sotelo /Fotoarena/Folhapress

On the night of September 1, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the current vice president of Argentina and its former head of state, arrived home to a swarm of supporters outside her door. As she greeted well-wishers and made her way inside, she suddenly found herself staring down the barrel of a gun. The would-be assassin pulled the trigger, but the pistol did not go off. 

This attempt on Ms. Kirchner’s life caused international alarm. She is a polarizing figure in Argentina, but soon after the attack, her base in Congress posed for a photo side-by-side with the opposition in a show of solidarity. 

An urgent takeaway from this worrying episode — which, of course, could have been much worse — is that Brazil is not the only Latin American country on edge right now.

Indeed, given the various challenges and opportunities facing the region as it climbs out of the Covid hole and elects new heads of state, nothing will be more important for Latin America next year than having leaders in power committed to turning down the temperature of political disagreements. 

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro is openly disinterested in easing tensions within his country and beyond. 

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