Justice sentences Cristina Fernández to 6 years in prison

Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernández repudiated the historic judicial ruling that sentenced her Tuesday to six years in prison for fraudulent administration and pointed out that it obeys a “judicial mafia” that decides on the life and freedom of citizens.

“This is the confirmation of a parastatal system,” said the former president on her YouTube channel in reaction to the sentence that also includes her perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The Peronist leader recorded the statements in her office in the Senate, from which she virtually followed the moment in which a federal court made up of three judges read the verdict. As vice president, Fernández de Kirchner presides over the upper house.

This is the first time that an Argentine vice president has been sentenced while in office.

The ruling is expected to have a strong impact, since Fernández is the most relevant political figure of the last 20 years. She was a legislator and president for two consecutive terms (2007-2015) and now vice president, in addition to being the leader of a center-left sector within Peronism with a great capacity for mobilization in the streets.

The court that sentenced the ex-governor considered the fraudulent administration as proven but dismissed the prosecution’s accusation that the 69-year-old leader had led an illegal association and for which she had requested a total sentence of 12 years in prison.

Fernández was found guilty of causing the State to defraud nearly 1,000 million dollars through the irregular awarding of 51 road works with national funds to Lázaro Báez, a related businessman, during his two terms.

The former president stressed that the court had already planned to sentence her from the beginning of the trial and questioned whether she considered “that I committed the crime through the execution of the national budget” by maintaining that “the president is not responsible for the execution” of it, but rather the cabinet chiefs.

Read Also:  Woman sentenced to life in prison for abandonment and death of her baby

He also referred to the attempted attack he suffered on September 1 and maintained that “they want me dead or imprisoned.” For this fact, three young people are arrested and prosecuted.

Dozens of sympathizers of leftist forces gathered around the headquarters of the federal courts to give their support to the former president when the verdict was read. The building was surrounded by fences and heavily guarded by police.

The ruling can be appealed and will be final when the Supreme Court of Justice so decides, a process that could take years. Until then, the vice president will be able to run for any popularly elected office – from a seat in Congress to the presidency – as established by law.

However, Fernández announced that “I am not going to be a candidate for anything, neither for president, nor for senator. My name will not be on any ballot.”

The court also handed down six-year prison terms for other defendants, such as Báez and former Public Works Secretary José López – who are already serving prison terms for corruption – and lesser sentences for several former officials. Three of the 13 defendants were acquitted or dismissed for lack of evidence.

Patricio Giusto, director of the consultancy Diagnóstico Político, told The Associated Press that Fernández will deepen his “strategy of victimization and of aligning himself” with Luiz Inácio “Lula” Da Silva, the leftist leader who was just elected president of Brazil after he the court annulled his prison sentence.

Recent Articles

Related News

Leave A Reply

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here