The assailant of Argentinian Vice-President Cristina Kirchner two weeks ago, and his young companion, were both formally charged Thursday, September 15 with attempted "aggravated homicide" with premeditation, and remanded in custody, according to the resolution of the judge in charge of the investigation.

Fernando Sabag Montiel, 35, was overpowered and arrested on the spot, when the shot had not fired, and his friend Brenda Uliarte, 23, was arrested three days later.

Judge Maria Capuchetti will have to rule later on the fate of two acquaintances of the couple, a 21-year-old woman, Agustina Diaz, and a 27-year-old man, Nicolas Gabriel Carrizo, arrested this week.

"Pre-planning and agreement"

Cristina Kirchner, ex-head of state (2007-2015) and figurehead of the Peronist left, still influential, although very divisive, in Argentine politics, was the victim of an attempted attack on September 1, when that she mingled with sympathizers who had come to support her at her home.

Fernando Sabag Montiel, in the crowd, had pointed a pistol about a meter from Mrs. Kirchner's head, but for some reason still unknown, the shot did not go off.

The weapon - a 7.65 caliber Bersa semi-automatic pistol - was however in working order and the magazine contained bullets but apparently none had been engaged in the firing chamber.

The investigation, based largely on the analysis of the contents of the telephones of the suspects and those of their entourage, had established a "planning and prior agreement" between the two main suspects, of precarious status and without recent formal employment.

Unclear motives

Their motivations have not yet been clearly established and a marked politicization has not been proven at this stage concerning them either, even if certain exchanges of messages have shown manifest hostility from Brenda Uliarte towards Cristina. Kirchner.

>> To read also: In Argentina, Cristina Kirchner risks 12 years in prison and ineligibility for life

The attack on the vice-president gave rise the next day to demonstrations bringing together tens of thousands of people in several cities in Argentina, and to a wave of international condemnation.

Thursday, she spoke for the first time in public since the attack, saying her emotion to be "alive, thanks to God and to the Virgin", and evoking the support of Pope Francis, who had called her a few hours after the attack.

"I feel that I am alive, thanks to God and to the Virgin, really", she declared, her voice broken, in the Senate - of which she is president - where she received a group of priests and nuns who work in poor neighborhoods or "villas miserias", slums.

With AFP

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