Argentina - September 2022

The investigation into the assassination attempt of Argentina’s Vice President Cristina Fernández has shone a light on worrying radical groups that have emerged in Argentina out of hatred of the political class. This highlights how aggressive and radicalized politics has become in Latin America. The case has triggered further criticism from the government against the judiciary and media, which, it argues, is biased against Peronism.

Some analysts see the attack as a step beyond political polarization, representing general disenchantment with politics as a whole rather than with a specific political position. They argue that mistrust and loss of legitimacy of the institutions of democracy are leading to anger with politicians, highlighting the importance for leading political figures to seek conciliation rather than stoke division.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Financial Times, SwissInfo