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Argentina court hands VP Cristina Kirchner 6-year jail term in corruption case

Wednesday, 07 December 2022 3:04 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 07 December 2022 3:06 PM ]

Argentina's Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner greets supporters outside the National Congress in Buenos Aires, August 23, 2022. (File photo by Reuters)

An Argentine court has found Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner guilty in a high-profile corruption case, sentencing the influential politician to six years in prison and disqualifying her from holding public office.

Judges from Federal Court 2 in Buenos Aires on Tuesday found Kirchner guilty as the “criminally responsible author of the crime of fraudulent administration to the detriment of the public administration.”

The court acquitted her on another count of “illicit association.”

Fernandez, who served as president for two terms between 2007 and 2015, faced charges of corruption in the awarding of public works during her presidency.

Prosecutors had alleged that public works contracts were handed to construction magnate and ally Lazaro Baez, who channeled money back to Fernandez and late husband Nestor Kirchner, also a former president.

Kirchner has denied the allegations and considers herself a victim of a ‘political witch hunt’ by her enemies.

“This court has been a true firing squad,” the politician told the court last week, accusing prosecutors of having “dedicated themselves to disrespecting and insulting me.”

“It is clear that the idea was always to condemn me,” she said after the sentencing. “This is a parallel state and judicial mafia.”

The powerful vice president, who has temporary immunity due to her current role, will not face immediate prison time and is expected to appeal the sentence. Lawyers said Kirchner would not go to jail any time soon due to a likely long appeals process and her immunity while serving as vice president.

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She has suggested the real impact would come from being disqualified for elected office. “In 2023 I will not be a candidate for anything, I will no longer have privileges,” she said, adding she would step down when the current government term ends in December next year. “My name is not going to be on any ballot.”

Defenders of the vice president also maintain she is a victim of judicial persecution.

The ruling Peronist government of President Alberto Fernandez is facing a tough battle to fend off a challenge from the conservative opposition in the 2023 election.

Argentina is on edge after a long economic crisis and inflation heading toward 100%.

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