Last minute and reactions to the attack against Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in Argentina

The president of Argentina, Alberto Fernández, declared this Friday, September 2, a national holiday for the nation to gather in support of Fernández de Kirchner, the president announced.

Fernández called for the “firmest rejection” of this type of attack, calling it an attack on democracy.

“We can disagree, and have deep differences, but in a democratic society these violent actions have no place,” said the president. “We must eradicate hate and violence from our media and political discourse.”

The president said he has been in contact with the judge assigned to the case to act as quickly as possible.

According to authorities in Argentina, the weapon used in the failed assassination attempt on the vice president was a .380-caliber pistol with five bullets.

Argentine President Alberto Fernández said the gun pointed at Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was loaded with five bullets. In addition, he declared a national holiday in the country for this Friday, September 2.

“Cristina is still alive because, for some reason that we cannot technically confirm at this time, the gun, which was armed with five bullets, did not fire even though the trigger was pulled,” Fernandez said in a televised speech Thursday night.

On Thursday night, outside the building where Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner lives, in the city of Buenos Aires, a man tried to attack the Vice President with a firearm.

The incident occurred during one of the vigils that have been taking place outside the house for several days while the hearings for the so-called Vialidad case are taking place, in which a prosecutor has requested 12 years in prison, accused of aggravated illicit association as a boss and aggravated fraudulent administration, accusations that she considers respond to political persecution.

The Federal Police of Argentina reported that they arrested a man.

The suspect was detained by the Argentine Federal Police and has been identified as a citizen of Brazilian origin named Fernando Andre Sabag Montiel, according to the state news agency Télam. Previously, Telam had identified the suspect as Fernando Andrés Zabak.