Supporters of Cristina Kirchner held a mass flag-raising rally in Buenos Aires on Saturday to demand her release from detention [1].
The event, known as a “banderazo,” serves as a critical signal in the internal debate within the Peronist movement as it navigates leadership tensions.
Thousands of participants gathered at Parque Lezama in the San Telmo neighborhood [2, 3]. The demonstration marked one year since the detention of the former president [4]. While the primary focus remained on her release, the rally also functioned as a political tool to challenge current party dynamics [4].
Máximo Kirchner was the sole speaker at the event. He directed criticism toward other Peronist figures, specifically targeting Governor Axel Kicillof for a perceived lack of support.
“Piden unidad y no son capaces de ir a verla,” Máximo Kirchner said [5].
The protest in the capital was part of a larger coordinated effort. Organizers called for simultaneous rallies across 135 municipalities throughout the country [6].
Supporters used the gathering to highlight the judicial pressure facing the former president. The event combined the demand for her freedom with a warning to those within the Peronist coalition who have remained silent or distant during her legal battles [4].
““Piden unidad y no son capaces de ir a verla,” Máximo Kirchner said”
The rally signifies a deepening rift within the Peronist movement, where loyalty to Cristina Kirchner is being used as a litmus test for political legitimacy. By publicly criticizing allies like Kicillof, Máximo Kirchner is attempting to consolidate the 'militancia' (grassroots base) and pressure party leadership to take a more aggressive stance against the judiciary.
