The case in question is called Vialidad, in which a scheme of embezzlement of public money and favoritism was investigated
MAYARA PAIXÃO – BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (FOLHAPRESS) – It was already expected, but it was still a setback. The Argentine court upheld this Wednesday (13) the sentence of six years in prison and perpetual disqualification from running for public office against Cristina Kirchner, former president and one of the most important political figures in the country, in a case of corruption .
The decision was validated by a special court, and now the alternatives for Cristina have practically been exhausted. Her last chance is to appeal to the Argentine Supreme Court — and she indicates that she will do so. The sentence would only be enforced when all resources were exhausted.
The case in question is called Vialidad, in which a scheme to embezzle public money and favor businessman Lázaro Báez in the province of Santa Cruz, in the south of the country, was investigated.
The prosecutor in the case had previously asked that Cristina be found guilty of illicit association and fraudulent administration to the detriment of the State, with a sentence of 12 years in prison. In December 2022, months after Cristina was the target of an assassination attempt, the court acquitted her of the first charge, but found her guilty of fraud against the State and sentenced her to six years in prison.
Cristina was then vice president, and with that she became the first occupant of that position to be convicted of corruption while holding it. Since before that, the Peronist has accused the country’s justice system of practicing lawfare (using the law for political purposes).
Outside the court where this Wednesday’s decision was announced, the well-known “Commodore Py”, several Kirchnerist activists participated in a kind of public class on this topic.
Lawyer Juan Grabois, a prominent figure in protests, led the act. Former federal deputy Manuela d’Ávila traveled from Brazil to Buenos Aires and also participated.
The decision once again draws attention to Cristina for a few reasons. A few days ago it was announced that she will preside over the Justicialist Party (PJ), a major component of the tangle of Peronism. And from this came a new indicator: that she does not intend to give up public life.
Argentina will hold mid-term elections in 2025 to renew some congressional seats. Parties, including that of President Javier Milei, Liberdade Avança, are already organizing themselves in favor of this to increase their power in the Legislature. And now it is being considered that Cristina Kirchner could run.
Cristina will not go to prison, only when all her resources are exhausted (in this case, the Supreme Court of Justice). As he is over 70 years old (he is 71), he could ask to serve his sentence at home.
But the symbolic weight of the conviction still resides in the figure of the politician who presided over the country for two terms (2007-2015) and was then deputy to Alberto Fernández, with whom he had a very frayed relationship, to say the least, from 2019 to 2023 .
She released an extensive letter this Tuesday (12) in which she said that there would be no surprise in the decision, as there is no bias on the part of the judges and that she is the target of persecution from the media and the courts.
Cristina did not appear in court. Minutes before the hearing, he published a video on X as if to say he wasn’t paying attention to what was happening there. “On the way to Moreno [cidade na província de Buenos Aires]where I will have an activity with 400 women; see you”, he wrote, alongside a heart emoji, and left quickly.
