On January 18, 2015, only hours before presenting his case against current Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in a special parliamentary hearing, federal prosecutor Alberto Nisman was found dead in his Puerto Madero apartment from a single gunshot wound to the head. Nisman had been investigating the devastating 1994 terrorist attack on a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires (the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina ‐ AMIA) for ten years, and alleged that the current government had attempted to cover up Iran’s involvement in the attack in exchange for improved terms of trade. …
Argentines have responded to Nisman’s death with incredulity, anger, and resignation, as many believe it signals another blow to the democratic institutions of a country long stricken by institutional weakness and high levels of corruption (Levitsky and Murillo 2005). Setting aside the considerable personal tragedy of the situation, the country’s response highlights two important trends in Argentine public opinion: 1) the deepening of political polarization between pro‐ and anti‐Kirchneristas and 2) widespread mistrust of formal political institutions, and belief that the political system is fundamentally corrupt. CONT. – PDF
Mason Moseley (U. of Pennsylvania), AmericasBarometer