Cristina Kirchner’s full speech: “They want to exterminate Peronism and say that we are the violent ones”
Many thanks to the background. Many thanks also to everyone, to those on this side and to those who watch my back. Thanks. Thank you very much. Thank you very much to everyone on this special day.
Look, since Tuesday when the judicial party requested 12 years of sentence for each year of the best 12 years that the Argentine people had. From that day spontaneous demonstrations of compatriots took place throughout the length and breadth of the country. Throughout the length and breadth of the country, also here. However, the only place where between Tuesday and today there were scenes of violence was here: in the City of Buenos Aires and at the door of my house. Provoked by what I call hatred towards Peronist joy and love. They hate the love and joy of the Peronists who have always been the object of violence.
Look: since the last day I was President of all Argentines. That December 9, when that wonderful act in the Plaza de Mayo ended, I came here to my house to sleep because the next day I had to travel to the south, where I am from. Long live Patagonia, of course, and today more than ever with such richness. And I couldn’t get here because this place was surrounded by supporters of the new government, of the macrismo, who insulted, attacked and I had to go to sleep at my daughter’s house, here in the Monserrat neighborhood.
From that day until Tuesday, this corner and in particular the speaker has suffered permanent harassment from people who come to insult, insult and threaten me with death. I never saw the Police of the City of Buenos Aires intervene to prevent this harassment. I am a citizen too and I pay my taxes just like everyone else here. I have the same right as everyone, not anyone else but the same. And then they say that we are the violent ones.
You, all Argentines, have seen them during the tragedy that humanity in general and us in particular experienced. During the pandemic, burning chinstraps, violating quarantine without caring about anything at all, putting the health of the population at risk. They never cared. There was never a single Federal or City police officer who could even bother them when they were still breaking the law, because we believe that in a democracy the right to freedom of expression is fundamental.
We have also seen them hang mortuary bags on the bars of the Government House with the faces of the main leaders of our political space, but we are the violent ones. We have seen them hang gallows and place guillotines in the squares of the Republic, but we are the violent ones. The degree of cynicism and perversion of not assuming and taking charge of what they want is incredible: to exterminate Peronism, which was always what they always wanted.
But look: they’ve tried everything. The worst violence. The disappearance of thousands and thousands of compatriots because they do not accept that the people can express themselves and claim things different from what they want to give them. We have to ask the opposition, especially now that a new presidential campaign is approaching, to stop competing with each other to see who hates the Peronists more and who beats them more. Forget about that… Look: I recommend them to you as a citizen, as a compatriot. Those competitions to see who is tougher, who punishes the mobilizations or popular demonstrations the most never came to fruition in Argentina and they have a very bad history. Do not repeat experiences that we all have to regret later. There has been too much bloodshed in Argentina for them to continue threatening those who think differently with gunshots, bullets, tear gas, pepper spray.
Right here, for five days, people peacefully and joyfully demonstrated. It is not true that they were there all day, it was in the morning when I went to the Senate and then in the afternoon, seven in the afternoon, when they got together to sing and express their support. Not to insult anyone, not to wish death on anyone. Simply to humbly support a political space that has achieved so many things for Argentina no matter how much they want to deny it, hide it or disguise it from their media constructions.
That is why I want to tell all of you that even if I lived a thousand years, it will never be enough for me to thank you for the love, solidarity and loyalty of all of you. Believe me that at this point in my life there is nothing more important than that.
I only ask that we never abandon our convictions. And above all, that indestructible love for the country that unites us all. That’s why I want, finally, to say thank you and ask you, well… let’s go get some rest, it’s been a long day. A long day.
I love them very much, I love them very much. I feel that each one of you is a little of my son. I also feel like a mother to all of you. Thank you very much to you all. I love you very much, with all my heart. Thanks.