Buenos Aires Province (PBA) Security Minister Sergio Berni has announced he will be taking medical leave starting today until May 25. 

A statement released earlier today said he will be undergoing medical tests and treatment to heal an injury he sustained during a bus driver protest last month.

His administrative duties will be handled by Julio Alak, PBA’s Justice and Human Rights Minister, while Javier Alonso, Subsecretary of Education and Professional Development, will coordinate the ministry’s activities.

Berni suffered skull and cheekbone fractures as well as multiple cuts on April 3, one of which is the apparent reason for his medical leave. 

At dawn that day, a 65-year-old bus driver, Daniel Barrientos, was murdered in the Lomas del Mirador neighborhood. His assassination sparked rage among his colleagues of the 620 bus line, who went out onto the streets to protest insecurity. As Berni approached the protest in the neighborhood of Lomas del Mirador, some demonstrators attacked him.

On Friday, Sergio Berni told Radio Continental that he “does not know yet” whether he will run as a presidential candidate or not.” 

“To be a candidate, one needs several things: one of them is to the vocation for power,” he said. “If you ask me, I have a lot of vocation for power”.