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Protesters and riot police outside the house of Vice President Cristina Fernández
Thousands of people have demonstrated in Argentina in support of Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who denies the corruption charges once morest her.
Supporters of Fernández de Kirchner began to gather around her house, in Recoleta, an area of Buenos Aires, following the Prosecutor asked for her 12 years in prison and disqualification from holding public office.
The protest rose in tone this Saturday, following the security forces will install a perimeter of fences around the home of the former president (2007-2015).
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The vice president’s house woke up surrounded by fences and police.
“Today I woke up with the corner of my house literally besieged (…) They want to ban the manifestations of love and support absolutely peaceful and joyful that take place in the face of the already undeniable persecution of the judicial party”, he explained Fernández de Kirchner in a letter where he was addressing the mayor of Buenos Aires, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta.
“The logic of Mr. Larreta is the same logic of the judicial party. For the macristas: care and protection. For the Peronists: fences, city police infantry and even sticks, tear gas and pepper spray like Monday night What was said that day at night: they never were and will never be democratic,” he added in the letter.
Hours later, heSupporters of the former president knocked down the fences and there were clashes between ehese and the riot police.
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Cristina Fernández gave a brief speech outside her house and thanked her supporters for their support.
At least 5 officers were injured and 4 protesters were arrested, according to local media reports.
At the end of a tense day, in the midst of thousands of demonstrators and shouting “Cristina president”, Fernández de Kirchner delivered a brief speech on a makeshift stage outside his home.
“In a democracy, the right to freedom of expression is fundamental,” he said.
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Protesters clashed with police as they tried to break down barriers around the vice president’s home.
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The clash between protesters and riot police resulted in several injuries and arrests.
Then he addressed his followers: “I want to thank you and ask you to go rest. It’s been a long day.”
Fernández de Kirchner, 69, is accused of defrauding the State, as well as being involved in a plot to divert public funds while she was president, between 2007 and 2015.
The prison request has provoked the indignation of his followers. Kirchner says that she is being persecuted.
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