"Argentinian court hands 10-year sentence for assassination attempt on Cristina Fernández de Kirchner"

Court Sentences Man to 10 Years for Attempted Murder of Former Argentine President

A court in Argentina has handed down a 10-year prison sentence to a man convicted of attempting to assassinate former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

The court in Buenos Aires also sentenced his accomplice to eight years in prison, concluding a high-profile case that has gripped the nation since 2022. The primary defendant, Fernando Sabag Montiel, pushed through a crowd outside the former president’s residence, pointed a loaded gun at her face, and pulled the trigger.

The weapon failed to fire, leaving Fernández de Kirchner, who was serving as vice-president at the time, unharmed.

The failed attack sparked demonstrations by Fernández de Kirchner’s staunch followers, while her critics questioned the incident’s circumstances, leading to widespread speculation.

A prominent figure in Argentine politics for three decades, Fernández de Kirchner served two presidential terms from 2007 to 2015. Her left-leaning policies remain divisive, with critics blaming her leadership for Argentina’s economic instability, including soaring inflation and large financial deficits.

Earlier this year, the 72-year-old was sentenced to six years in prison for corruption related to allegedly directing public construction contracts to an associate’s firm. A court permitted her to serve the sentence under house arrest in Buenos Aires, citing her age and security concerns after the 2022 attack.

Barred from holding public office, she remains a vocal opponent of Argentina’s current libertarian president, Javier Milei. From her residence, she continues to post on social media, greet supporters from her balcony, and host notable figures, such as Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who met with her in July. Fernández de Kirchner has repeatedly dismissed the corruption charges as politically driven.

In the trial ending Wednesday, prosecutors argued that Sabag Montiel, an Argentine citizen born in Brazil, and his then-partner, Brenda Uliarte, had planned the attack in advance. Evidence included WhatsApp discussions about firearms and proof that the pair had visited Fernández de Kirchner’s home beforehand to monitor her movements and security measures.

During the time of the incident, the former president was facing trial for corruption, with gatherings often taking place outside her residence in her support. Her followers detained Sabag Montiel as he attempted to escape after the gun malfunctioned.

In court, he admitted to the act, claiming he sought to deliver justice for Fernández de Kirchner’s alleged corruption. Uliarte, arrested days later, denied any participation.