CFK and Alberto Fernández tell Jujuy governor Morales to “take responsibility”

The war of words erupted on Twitter against the backdrop of the fierce repression in the province

Police repression in Jujuy. Credit: Télam

The fierce repression of Jujuy police against demonstrators protesting the local legislature’s approval of a partial constitutional reform led to a war of words between Governor Gerardo Morales, on one side, against President Alberto Fernández and Vice-President Cristina Kirchner. Morales took to social media in the midst of the protests to accuse Fernández and CFK for what was happening in Jujuy. 

“I hold President Alberto Fernández and Vice-President Cristina Fernández responsible for the extreme violence Jujuy is currently experiencing,” tweeted Morales, who is also a member of the opposition coalition Juntos por el Cambio (JxC). 

“Violence is not going to twist our arm. After 40 years of democracy, I denounce this and call on all Argentines to repudiate what Kirchnerism and the Frente de Izquierda [Left Front, left-wing political coalition] are doing in Jujuy.”

Morales’ accusation against two of the main figures of the Frente de Todos (FdT) coalition did not go answered. CFK and Alberto Fernández also used Twitter to demand an end to the violent repression in Jujuy, and called on the governor to take responsibility for the situation. 

“Take responsibility Governor Morales and stop with the repressive madness your own actions have unleashed. What’s happening in Jujuy is your total responsibility, and you know it,” Kircher tweeted.

“It seems fierce repression is in your DNA. You were a high government official of the Alliance government that declared martial law in December of 2001 that led to the death of 38 Argentines,” she added, in reference to Morales’ past. 

CFK later also tweeted a press release from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights that said they were following the actions in Jujuy with “concern”, and called on the State to respect the right of protest, as well as international standards on the use of force. 

“Do you see why you shouldn’t lie, Morales? This isn’t [political organization] La Cámpora, kirchnerism, the president or the vice-president. This is the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (…) saying ‘Argentina should respect international standards regarding use of force in the Jujuy protests’”, CFK tweeted.

Alberto Fernández also said Morales was the only party responsible for the violence in Jujuy, and accused him of trying to impose a constitutional reform that doesn’t respect the National Constitution. 

“The reform does not take into account international treaties, ignores indigenous people and denies the right to protest,” Fernández tweeted. “We demand the Jujuy government cease its repression immediately, call on all social actors of the province and find a path forward to solve the controversy it has created.”

From the opposition, JxC presidential hopefuls Horacio Rodríguez Larreta and Patricia Bullrich voiced their support for the Morales on social media. 

“What we’re seeing in Jujuy is a token of what kirchnerism is capable of when they’re resisting change (…) All my support for Gerardo [Morales] and all the people of Jujuy who want to live better lives,” tweeted Rodríguez Larreta. 

“No provocation from kirchnerism can take us off the right path. You can’t give in to violence: we will impose law and order firmly. All my support for the governor of Jujuy and his people,” Bullrich tweeted.  

Newsletter

All Right Reserved.  Buenos Aires Herald