Argentina’s President Cristina Fernandez has dismissed the latest twist as absurd in the mystery surrounding the death of a prosecutor last month. However, she drew strong criticism for tweeting a joke that was racially loaded while on a trip in China.
During an official state visit in China, Fernandez allegedly mocked the Chinese accent in Spanish in a Twitter account by substituting r’s for l’s in a joke.
She explained that it had been necessary to react using humor in the most recent developments in a bizarre case involving the death of Alberto Nisman a prosecutor. Nisman was found in his apartment dead from a single gunshot wound in the head just a day prior to his testimony to Congress about accusations he had that President Fernandez attempted to cover up the alleged role Iran had in the worst ever Argentine terrorist attack in exchange much needed oil.
This week it emerged that Nisman had drafted an arrest warrant for the Argentine President.
Remarking that over 1,000 people were in attendance at an event for Argentine and Chinese businessmen, Fernandez wrote: Perhaps everyone is from La Campola and they have arrived for petloeum and lice, referring to the pro government La Campora a youth group.
Initially officials denied that a drafted arrest warrant had existed, which was found in a trash bin in Nisman’s apartment.
The people of Argentina have been shocked by Nisman’s death. Analysts say the political crisis that ensued could boost the opposition’s chances in the upcoming October presidential election in which Fernandez cannot run for reelection.
Critics are saying that the way the case has been handled by Fernandez has only caused the crisis to deepen. She did not appear in public for a week following Nisman’s death. She first posted two long letters on Facebook, despite many people in the country believing the government is involved.
Fernandez has speculated that a rogue spy might have been responsible for the prosecutor’s death.