Former Peronist President Cristina Kirchner was sentenced to six years in prison for corruption in a case concerning the awarding of public contracts, under her mandate, in the province of Santa Cruz, the traditional stronghold of the Kirchner family.
With our correspondent in Buenos Aires, Jean Louis Buchet
This is unprecedented in the country’s history. If other former presidents have already been condemned by justice in Argentina, they no longer exercised public functions. Twice President Cristina Kirchner was convicted for corruption while she is vice president.
A few minutes after the verdict was read, in a live speech, the one who is also President of the Senate denounced having been the victim of what she called “ a judicial mafia ” and one ” parallel state “. She asserts been convicted without evidence and will appeal. Kirchner also announced that she will not run for any office in next year’s general election.
The judges did not hold against her the most serious charge, the constitution of an association intended to commit crimes. But they considered that there was indeed fraud in the public administration, hence the six-year prison sentence for the former president and Lázaro Báez, the beneficiary of the supposedly fraudulent public works contracts.
From a practical point of view, the penalty has no consequences. After the publication of the explanatory memorandum, in March, Cristina Kirchner will be able to appeal and she will not hesitate, thus referring the case to the Supreme Court. More trials will follow but few Argentines believe she will ever go to jail