Argentina's Extortiongate: Investigating judge to retain case, in a blow to Macri

[sandensea]

2. Politics were indeed quite violent there in the past, off and on. Now they're mostly just ruthless.

That said, Macri has taken the ruthlessness to another level. Though not exactly an unprecedented level:

Macri's show trials against opponents are very reminiscent of the witch hunts against Peronists after the 1955 coup against Juan Perón.

Around 2,000 Peronist officials were detained by the Aramburu dictatorship, with many paraded around in high-profile show trials with enthusiastic help from corporate media.

But despite confessions extracted under duress, only 167 were charged with any crime (corruption or otherwise) and ultimately none were convicted. Many, however, were stripped of their property and valuables.

The 1976 dictatorship revived the tactic, with hundreds of prosperous entrepreneurs and families being forced to sign over their businesses and properties without due process by way of the "National Reparations Commission" (CONAREPA).

And since Macri's administration is many ways an ideological heir to those regimes - with many of the same last names and policies - his resorting to lawfare to rid himself of opponents was entirely predictable.

As was, of course, the debt crisis and economic collapse he's leaving behind.

Thanks as always for replying with such well-researched material, Judi. Really adds a lot to anyone reading this, who'd like to familiarize themselves with all the drama in Argentina. Always the drama!