Possible Return of Cristina Kirchner to Power Worries Brazil
By Xiu Ying, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The possible return of Cristina Kirchner to power worries the Bolsonaro government, which may have her as a political counterpoint and whose ascension will change the correlation of forces in the continent.
Through an erratic foreign policy that fails to project influence in the region and has contributed little to solving the crisis in Venezuela, the Bolsonaro government finds its protagonism in the continent endangered by a possible volte-face in the next presidential elections in Argentina, on October 27th.
“Argentina is more important than Venezuela, as power may return to the hands of Cristina Kirchner,” said Jair Bolsonaro in an interview with SBT.
Recent polls point to a realistic prospect of the former president returning to power. Kirchner’s return would represent the rise of a new force correlation in Latin America.
Currently, few neighboring countries – such as Cuba, Mexico, and Bolivia – support Maduro.
A left-wing government in the region’s third-largest economy would weaken the international alliance which seeks to replace Maduro and bury the Bolivarian claims on the continent, once and for all.
The threat lies in the return of left-wing populism behind Venezuela’s collapse.
The return of Kirchnerism would represent a counterpoint to the leadership role Bolsonaro intended to play in the region, with Donald Trump‘s support.
This is bad news for the pretensions of a government which, after almost five months in office, is still unable to establish a coherent, sound and influential foreign policy.
Despite leading the polls, Kirchner, who may formalize her candidacy by June 22nd, is facing several corruption cases and is expected to stand trial on May 21st on charges of embezzlement and money laundering through hotels belonging to her family in Patagonia.
As a Senator, she enjoys privileged jurisdiction and, in the event of a conviction, would only be arrested with the approval of Congress.
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