Argentina’s Vice President Cristina Kirchner was sentenced on Tuesday (December 6th) to six years in prison, even as her parliamentary immunity protects her, and a lifetime ban on trial for fraud and corruption during her presidential terms. A 69-year-old man was found guilty “fraudulent administration”. to the detriment of the state, in this trial concerning the signing of state contracts in his political stronghold of Santa Cruz (South) during his two presidential terms (2007-2015). A 12-year prison sentence was demanded against him in August, as well as inadmissibility.
The former head of state (centre-left), who seven years after leaving the presidency remains an important, if divisive, figure in Argentine politics has always denied any wrongdoing. His lawyers asked for a full release. And he has condemned the trial since 2019 “Politics”led by judges, according to him, was instrumentalized by the right-wing opposition, particularly the “Macriste” camp, referring to his successor in the presidency (2015-2019), the liberal Mauricio Macri.
The post of Senate President, which is synonymous with parliamentary immunity, saved him from prison. An immunity that would last if he were to win a seat in the October 2023 general election. A person involved said Tuesday night that he would not be “Candidate for nothing in 2023”.. “I will not be a candidate for anything. Not a senator, not a vice president, not a president.” In a combat video published on his social pages immediately after the verdict, he said: In any case, the penalty of imprisonment as inadmissibility can only be enforced after several appeals, including possibly to the Supreme Court, which could take several years.
The August indictment, aged 12, sparked large demonstrations of support for him in several Argentine cities and several evenings outside the windows of his home in Buenos Aires, sparking clashes with police. However, the looming verdict on Tuesday prompted only a relatively modest mobilization. According to close sources, no strong directives have been coming from the vice president’s entourage in recent days.
A few hundred supporters, trade unionists, members of Peronist organizations, quietly gathered near the court in the afternoon, desperately looking for shade in the high heat, AFP notes. Among them, 50-year-old shopkeeper Marcelo Graziano explained that he came “protect Christina”saying to himself “Thankful for what he has given the people and what he can still give”.
“Judicial Mafia”.
The hypothesis of significant mobilizations caused fear of leakage, as in August, after the announcement of demands. This tension indirectly created the context for the September 1 attack on Christina Kirchner. The shooter, whose shot had not been fired, slipped through the crowd of supporters. Three suspects, young men who are a bit delusional, political and hostile to the Kirschners, but so far without any proven conspiracy, are in custody.
During the trial, eight of Christina Kirchner’s twelve co-conspirators, including a construction contractor and former managers of the road construction organization “Vialidad”, were sentenced to three and a half to six years in prison. Three more were released, one received a prescription.
“The sentence was written: The idea was to convict me.”, Christina Kirchner responded on her social media pages from her Senate office immediately after the verdict. He condemned “parallel state”a “judicial mafia”.. On Monday, he compared his fate to that of re-elected Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was jailed for corruption in 2018-19, convictions eventually overturned for official misconduct.
Twins until the return? Technically it is possible. The sentence will only be enforced after a lengthy appeal. And as senator and Speaker of the Upper House, Christina Kirchner enjoys immunity that could extend beyond 2023 if she wins a seat in October’s general election. But his political future on a national scale is far from written. His camp is aware of the rejection it causes than the hard core of 20-25% of supporters.
And he distilled signals that he was no longer actually presenting himself as an agent, but rather as a “super influencer.” “Politics is not just holding a position (…), being president, vice president, senator or deputy. That’s the power of spreading ideas.”he said on Monday.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.