TN, Espert, and Cristina Kirchner's violent legacy

Although the act was presented as a formality for Cristina Kirchner to confirm her support for Sergio Massa 's candidacy, on June 26, 2023 , the then vice president left her mark. In three ways : she hit Alberto Fernández (for defending a Peronist PASO) and raised Eduardo "Wado" de Pedro (clarifying that if there had been an internal election, "he would have been our candidate"), indirectly ignoring Massa.

De Pedro was smiling from the front row. Although his candidacy had been a challenge , with a confirmed vice-president (Juan Manzur) and even a launch video , the Interior Minister reaffirmed his central role in the K-pop world.

He had already shown countless signs of loyalty to Cristina, but one service in particular will always be remembered: he spearheaded the threat of mass resignations after the defeat in the 2021 legislative primaries. Clearly incapable of exercising power, Alberto Fernández never recovered from that blow.

With a friendly demeanor and connections to powerful groups that Kirchnerism publicly denigrates, De Pedro once again set his tone as soon as his boss was arrested for corruption: "Of course, the first condition for the incoming government is Cristina's freedom ," he announced on the radio.

But at the same time, his last name became linked to a crime, when it was revealed that at least two leaders who had worked with him participated in the attack on the TN news channel. One, José Lepere , was his second-in-command as minister during Fernández's administration. Another Camporista, Pablo Giles , from Merlo, reports to him politically.

That attack, in which K militants vandalized cars, the channel's reception area, and even smashed a display case containing awards, was the immediate (but not spontaneous) reaction when the former president's conviction was announced.

This wasn't the only act of political violence involving Kirchnerism. A few weeks later, an attack took place in front of the home of Congressman José Luis Espert . The operation included six bags filled with horse manure and a banner reading "Espert's shit lives here."

Beyond the unpleasantness, perhaps the most serious aspect wasn't the outcome but the planning of the attack. And there, another name close to the Kirchnerist legacy appeared involved: Mayra Mendoza , mayor of Quilmes, a precocious candidate for governor of Buenos Aires Province, and a close follower of the former president.

One of her followers ( Eva Mieri ) was a central figure in the attack on Espert's house. Mieri is not just another figure: as Clarín reported, in addition to being a council member, she has been the mayor's political shadow for years . She is first in line for the municipal succession.

How does this Camporist radicalization play out in the internal elections? A priori, not very well. Neither Axel Kicillof nor Sergio Massa agree with the idea of ​​"Free Cristina" as the central campaign slogan. They, and others, believe this could lead to another electoral defeat.

Although the van involved in the incident had passed by the home where Cristina is being held days earlier , according to the case file , there is no evidence of the extent of the responsibility in the case or who the masterminds were.

It is clear that in the verticalist structure that governs Kirchnerism, there is not much more than De Pedro and Mendoza than the Kirchners . Máximo and Cristina.