Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva to Ramp up Security After Assassination Attempt on Argentina VP

Brazil's presidential candidates, Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, are re-evaluating their security measures after the assassination attempt on Argentina's Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner.

The suspect behind the assassination attempt, who was a Brazilian, has since been arrested. However, according to Lula, his nationality underscored a huge concern because of his political inclinations.

Widely considered an extreme-right-leaning leader, Bolsonaro's earlier statements were believed to might have inspired the attack.

Jair Bolsonaro, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Security Beefs Up Following Argentina VP Assassination Attempt

According to Reuters, the attempted assassination of Argentina's Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has prompted two presidential candidates in Brazil to reassess their security measures.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who challenged Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro's re-election, took a not-so-subtle swipe at his opponent while condemning the attack against De Kirchner.

"This violence and political hatred that has been incited by some people is a threat to democracy in our region," a translated tweet of Lula said Friday.

Lula's campaign manager Paulo Teixeira told Reuters that ramping up security was already discussed by the team, and a new analysis of Lula's security situation will soon be carried out.

Teixeira also took a jab at Bolsonaro, saying that the assassination attempt on De Kirchner was a result of his preaching on inciting violence.

Bolsonaro was a prominent gun freedom advocate. In 2018, Bolsonaro called on his supporters to "machine gun" leftist opponents, and this rhetoric may have allegedly inspired the attacker.

De Kirchner and Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez are both well-known leftist politicians.

A source told Reuters that Bolsonaro's security measures would be increased following the assassination attempt against De Kirchner.

"I am sorry, it's a risk that everyone takes. I almost died in 2018 and I didn't see the left worrying about me, but it's okay... I hope that the investigation is carried out to see if it was his idea or if someone hired him to do this," Bolsonaro told reporters in Porto Alegre City on Friday afternoon.

Less than a month before the election in 2018, Bolsonaro was stabbed in the abdomen at a campaign event in Minas Gerais state.

At present, Bloomberg reported that Jair Bolsonaro's security is composed of security guards carrying a make-shift shield out of Kevlar-made briefcases to guard the president against close-range attacks. On the other hand, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was not advised to hug supporters.

Argentina VP Supporters March Against Political Violence

On Friday, tens of thousands of Argentinians marched in the streets to protest the country's growing political violence following Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's assassination attempt.

In Avenida de Mayo in Buenos Aires, protesters were waving light blue and white Argentine flags. Some carried banners showing support for the vice president, The Guardian reported.

Several political leaders had condemned the assassination attempt. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, also a left-leaning leader, attributed the violence to something familiar in the region.

"It has become common practice in Latin America to think that politics is the physical or judicial elimination of one's rival. That's pure fascism. Politics should mean freedom," Petro noted.

Fernando Andre Sabag Montiel, the 35-year-old Brazilian gunman, was arrested on Thursday night, shortly after he tried to kill De Kirchner.

Montiel emerged from the crowd outside the vice president's home and tried to shoot De Kirchner, pointing a handgun in her face. Luckily, the gun jammed as he aimed at her.

Authorities said the gunman was a street vendor who had lived in Argentina since 1998 and had no criminal record.

Authorities are still investigating the motive and if he acted alone or was part of a larger plot.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ivan Korrs

WATCH: Jair Bolsonaro Laments the Attack Against Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner - From CNN Brasil