Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner mocks Chinese accent

WOULD you mock the accent of the Chinese when visiting their country, cap-in-hand for badly needed investment? Argentina’s President did.

BEIJING, CHINA - FEBRUARY 4: Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner delivers a statement during a signing ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not in photo) at the Great Hall of the People on February 4, 2015 in Beijing, China,. The Argentinian leader is on an official visit and is expected to meet with Chinese counterparts to boost bilateral ties. (Photo by Rolex dela Pena - Pool / Getty Images)

EMBATTLED Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has caused a furore during a state visit to China seeking badly needed investment by joking about her hosts’ accents on Twitter.

Fernández, who had brain surgery last December, tried to mimic a Chinese accent by switching Rs with Ls in a tweet in Spanish.

“Are they all with La Campola?” referring to La Campora, her party’s youth organisation, led by her son. “Or, are they only there for the lice (rice) and petloleum (petroleum)?”

Sorry. ¿Sabes qué? Es que es tanto el exceso del ridículo y el absurdo, que sólo se digiere con humor. Sino son muy, pero muy tóxicos.

— Cristina Kirchner (@CFKArgentina) February 4, 2015

It was a play on a political joke from Argentina; her detractors say that her supporters only attend party events so they can get a free sandwich and a soda.

A few minutes later, Fernández added: “Sorry. You know what? There is too, too much craziness and absurdity, only humour can get you through it.”

The tweets came as she met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The President has been under the spotlight in Argentina after the suspicious death of a prosecutor.

PROSECUTOR HAD ARREST WARRANT FOR PRESIDENT

“Only there for the lice and petloleum” ... Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner tweets about the Chinese before a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Picture: AFP / GOH CHAI HIN

The Twitterverse reacted with criticism of what many considered a racist tweet by Fernández, a prolific tweeter who has 3.53 million followers.

“Cristina Fernández’s lack of tack and respect is incredible,” wrote @FaundezLafarga.

“She goes to China looking for (economic) agreements and she makes fun of their accents.” Another tweeter, @GuyChazan, wrote: “Faux pas in China. Really, this sort of joke went out of fashion in the 70s.”