Amanda Cotrim: Revolt and joy over Kirchner's arrest portray polarized Argentina

Beatriz, 85, was carrying a book with Eva Perón's name on the cover and photos of Cristina Kirchner and her husband, former president Néstor Kirchner. According to Beatriz, supporting the former president is "inevitable." Like Gustavo, Beatriz says she believes in the former president's innocence. "What they are doing to her is an injustice. But Cristina will be president again. I trust her," said the retiree.

Retirees are the group that suffers the most from Javier Milei's fiscal adjustment policies. Every Wednesday, hundreds of them protest in front of the National Congress for better pensions. Most of the demonstrations are repressed by the Argentine police. On March 12, police repression killed photojournalist Paulo Grillo, who spent three months in intensive care after being hit by a tear gas canister.

Cristina's arrest was also celebrated

On the other hand, since Cristina's conviction was confirmed by the Supreme Court, Argentines opposed to the former president celebrated her arrest and the impossibility of her running for office again.

Users of the social network X mocked the arrest and said that Peronist activists will have to stand in front of the former president's house for six years, in reference to the time of Cristina's conviction. Another said that the Peronist is corrupt: "Tomorrow, because of the arrest of the corrupt Cristina Kirchner, there will be no classes in several schools in Buenos Aires," said Jacob Dutt on social media, referring to the strike of some sectors of the public service, in repudiation of the former president's arrest.

One of the country's best-known journalists, Eduardo Feinmann, also celebrated the former president's arrest during his program on Mitre radio. "It's something to celebrate," he said. He also joked that the former president was in very good health, indicating that she would not need to be under house arrest. The journalist also pointed out that Cristina is no longer receiving a pension because she was a former president. The pension was suspended by President Javier Milei.