Federal Court of Appeal of Argentina dominated On Wednesday, he expressed support for the conviction of former Socialist Party president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and former vice president on corruption charges.
Fernández de Kirchner served two terms as president of Argentina from 2007 to 2015, succeeding her late husband Nestor Kirchner, who served as president from 2003 to 2007. Fernández de Kirchner also served as vice president under former Socialist President Alberto. Fernandez (unrelated) from 2019 to 2023.
Last week, the left-wing Justice Party appointed She will succeed Alberto Fernández as party leader. resigned in August during an ongoing investigation into domestic violence accusations.
Fernández de Kirchner was discovered guilty In 2022, he was accused of colluding with Argentine businessman and close friend Lázaro Báez and several others to defraud the Argentine state of more than $1 billion through dozens of dubious public works contracts while he was president. . This incident is commonly referred to in Argentina as: cause viaridade (“Road Incident”).
At the time, the court sentenced Fernández de Kirchner to six years in prison and banned him from holding public office for life. The original ruling was issued when Fernández de Kirchner served as both vice president and president of the Argentine Senate, and granted him immunity from the sentence. The former Socialist Party president immediately began a lengthy appeal process against the ruling.
On Wednesday, Judges Gustavo Hornos, Mariano Bolinsky and Diego Baroetaveña of Argentina's Court of Cassation, Court of Appeals, dismissed the appeal and confirmed the original judgment. The judge also rejected an appeal filed by prosecutors against other related charges for which she was acquitted in an original 2022 ruling.
The appeals court also ruled that if the verdict is finalized, Fernández de Kirchner will have to pay more than 84.8 billion pesos (approximately $84.89 million) in damages, which will be updated in the future. There is a possibility.
Although Fernández de Kirchner no longer has immunity, he is still eligible to run in next year's parliamentary elections because he is not scheduled to serve any jail time and can appeal to Argentina's Supreme Court, the last court of law. Argentine law too state People over 70 can serve prison sentences instead of house arrest. Fernández de Kirchner turned 71 in February.
Lawmakers from the ruling Liberty Forward (LLA) party, along with those from the Republican Proposal (PRO) and the Union of Radical Citizens (UCR), introduced a “clean record.” invoice If passed, the bill would ban convicted criminals whose sentences have been upheld by appeals courts from running for public office, but this would mean Fernández de Kirchner's candidacy in next year's parliamentary elections. It will be blocked.
Fernández de Kirchner attended a rally with his supporters on Wednesday afternoon to denounce the Court of Appeal's decision. claim She claimed that she was being punished “for everything I've done and because I'm a woman.”
“Being a woman makes everything 20 times more difficult,” Fernández de Kirchner said. “They can't stand arguing with women and not being right.”
“You see that when one side is right and the other side argues, a fight ensues? They can't give me a fight, so they do what they did today in Komodoro Pi. [the location of the appeals court]” she continued.
Argentina's President Javier Millay celebrated the ruling on social media, saying he remembered a time when he was unfairly criticized during the 2023 presidential campaign. “Statement regarding the guilt of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.”
“Now, today (under this administration) an Argentine judge confirmed the former president's conviction and permanent disqualification from holding public office,” Milay's message read. “Today, we can say without any doubt that Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is guilty of corrupt practices.”
On Thursday morning, the Argentine government announced President Milay announced that both Fernández de Kirchner's privileged retirement pension and the presidential pension she received as the widow of the late President Néstor Kirchner have been revoked.
Presidential Spokesman Manuel Adorni explained that the privileged pension is essentially a non-contributory allowance and is paid as “compensation for honor, merit and good performance during the term of office.”
“Mrs. Christina Kirchner was convicted by the Criminal Cassation Court of the Road Case as the mastermind of a crime of maladministration, which is why she is the antithesis of honor, merit and good work. Yes,” Adorni said, adding that this would result in savings. Approximately 21.8 million pesos (approximately $21,800) to Argentine citizens.
Adorni said that the former president's superannuation is a privilege that should not exist in Argentina, and that “its recipients belong to millions of Argentines in the highest circles of power who have seen their hopes destroyed at the hands of politics.” Especially if he is found guilty of defrauding people.” ”
“This is nothing more than giving public management a mask of common sense and sanity.During President Millei's term, Argentina was convicted of corruption, and those who further undermined the honor and dignity of the Argentine people were We will not allocate funds,” Adorni said.
President Milley, who is currently in the United States and is expected to meet with President-elect Donald Trump soon, addressed the incident in a statement on social media, saying it roughly translates to “commit a crime and pay your time.” Translated.
“Hello, everyone!” Millay wrote in another article post He also attached a link to the Argentine news outlet Infobae, which reported that the government had stripped Fernández de Kirchner of his pension.
Sandra Petvelo Minister of Human Capital Confirmed On Thursday, Fernández de Kirchner will lose his pension. The ministry announced the officials. statement On social media, this decision was not seen as a “sanction attached to a criminal sentence,'' but rather as “a sign of the worthlessness associated with being deemed criminally responsible for the crime of maladministration to the detriment of the people.'' As a result, the decision was made.” management. “
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here
