MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cristina’s sharp “genius” replies have her again in deep trouble

CFK: “I’m mortal” and prisoner of my words

Turbulent political times seem to be wearing down Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her lecturing style, forcing her to commit a full blown gaffe, given her long standing defence of human rights and condemnation of the abuses and disappearances committed under Argentine military regimes.

According to the Argentine press the incident happened earlier in the week at Buenos Aires National Library during the signature of a contract for the building of a Book Museum and Language Gallery.

Obsessed with her stubborn criticisms of Vice-president Julio Cobos and the Central Bank president Martin Redrado, both of which she wants to get rid off but so far has been unable because Argentine magistrates are acting as “delivery” kids for the opposition, it took several minutes for Mrs. Kirchner to realize the significance of the words used.

Apparently somebody from the crowd following the signature ceremony said in a loud voice: “genius”

“I’m no genius, I wish I was. If I was a genius I would have made several disappear as the (lamp) genie” said Cristina Kirchner, obviously in direct reference to her several political targets.

Long silence and then the uncomfortable rectification: “No, no, I’m mortal and very proud of being mortal; never would I want to or be able to make somebody disappear, there have been too many disappeared in Argentina: disappearances of identities, of women, of men, of children whom we are still looking for and we will continue to search for tirelessly”.

Given the ongoing institutional crisis Mrs Kirchner’s words were overshadowed by the barrage against Cobos and Redrado. However when the dust settled she has become the target of left wing organizations and members of Congress who point out to her loquacious frivolity with such a sensitive issue for Argentina and its thousands of disappeared.

Lawmaker Victoria Donda (daughter of a disappeared) said that it was “an unfortunate expression, because what happened between 1976 and 1983 was too serious for anybody to compare it to what ever comes to the mind, much less when the person involved in non else but the President”.