Footage posted by Reuters shows Fernandez de Kirchner walking through a crowd of supporters outside her Buenos Aires home as a man held a pistol aimed at her face.

The President said that the gun had been loaded with five bullets, but it failed to go off.

“This is the most serious event we have gone through since Argentina returned to democracy,” he said.

The suspected assailant was identified as a 35-year-old Brazilian man and his weapon was seized as he was promptly arrested by police.

This attack has been described as an assassination attempt and it comes amidst a corruption trial against Fernandez de Kirchner who acted as President between 2007 and 2015.

She is currently on trial for corruption linked to public contracts awarded in the early 2000s.

The case is based on a period of 12-years during which 51 contracts were awarded to companies owned by Lazaro Baez, a business-man who was a friend and associate of the Kirchners.

According to Al Jazeera, Baez went from being a bank employee to founding a construction company in the days leading up to Nestor Kirchner (Fernandez de Kirchner’s husband) taking office in 2003.

Baez was convicted of money laundering last year.

If she’s convicted, Fernandez de Kirchner could face up to 12-years in prison and possible disqualification from public office. However, she consistently denies the charges.

Argentina has also found itself sinking deeper into an economic crisis fuelled by increasing debt and inflation – this has triggered street protests, damaging the morale of the general public. 

Several politicians around the region have extended their solidarity and condemnation of the attack.

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