Prosecutor Diego Luciani in turn claimed that the vice president cannot hold public office
Kirchnerism announced mobilizations in defense of its political leader
The horizon of tension is clearly drawn in Argentina around the figure of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner from a resounding court case. The prosecutor Diego Luciani requested this Monday 12 years in prison for the current vice-president and, in addition, a perpetual disqualification to hold public office for acts of corruption related to public works during their governments (2007-15). Luciani believes that the former president led an “illicit association” that favored the construction businessman Lázaro Báez, a friend of her late husband, Néstor Kirchner, and defrauded the treasury for millionaire figures. As expected, Kirchnerism came out in defense of its leader and announced street demonstrations.
He also recalled that 12 years was what the Brazilian justice imposed in 2018 on Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to remove him from the electoral race that allowed Jair Bolsonaro to reach the Planalto Palace. That trial has been annulled. Judge Sergio Moro and prosecutor Deltan Dallagnol went from being republican heroes to objects of political contempt. The right-wing opposition to Peronism does not predict the same outcome in Argentina and at this time it acclaims Luciani, who in turn accused the vice presidency of “personal profit”, although, the defense noted, he was unable to present any evidence.
in front of the judges Rodrigo Gimenez UriburuAndrés Basso and Jorge Gorini, Luciani argued that Fernández de Kirchner’s “claim” to be “judged by history & rdquor; it represents “a fallacy” because “public officials are judged by the Judiciary.” Both the prosecutor and Giménez Uriburu are part of a team of members of that judiciary that plays soccer on a property owned by the former president. Mauricio Macri. For the vice president’s lawyers, it is more about a political affinity than a sports one and that is why they were recused. That claim has not prospered.
Luciani, in turn, criticized President Alberto Fernández for having carried out a “puerile defense” of the vice president. “Today is a very unpleasant day for someone who, like me, has been raised in the family of a judge, has been educated in the world of law and teaches Criminal Law for more than three decades. I once again convey my deepest affection and solidarity to the vice president,” said the president. The government reiterated that Argentines are witnesses to a case of “judicial persecution“.
Other convictions
The prosecution also requested that Báez be sentenced to 12 twelve years in prison. For the former Minister of Planning, July De Vido, requested 10 years. Luciani demanded from the court a similar sentence for the former Secretary of Public Works, José López, who in 2016 was found with bags full of millions of dollars.
first reactions
“There is no fist bump, threat and insult from the vice president that distorts the value that independent justice has for Argentines,” said Patricia Bullrich, president of PRO, Macri’s right-wing party. “History did not absolve her, as he boasted when he faced the judges. Neither does politics. Cristina Kirchner confirmed in recent weeks that have been so tortuous for her that power is an imperfect shield and that the messianic leadership she exerts barely works with the intense minority that accepts religious submission to her slogans, “said the newspaper The nation. In her opinion, the “extremely harsh” sentence presented by Luciani “overflows the legal dimension and deepens the political fragility” of the vice president. “It is an earthquake with many aftershocks ahead and that will condition the life of Peronism at least until the presidential renewal of 2023,” he added about the elections in October of that year.
“A show with a sung ending“said the newspaper Page 12, closest to the government. According to the publication, “with false evidence, witnesses who denied the accusations and a process full of irregularities, the prosecution had no qualms about qualifying the cause of the public works in (Patagonian province of) Santa Cruz as the greatest known corruption maneuver in the country’s history.”
possible scenarios
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The Federal Oral Court 2 (TOF 2) announces its verdict before the end of the year. Fernández de Kirchner, demanded to expand before the judges his statement “before the Lack of evidence in the oral trial” and the “statements of the witnesses who demolished” the complaints on which part of the accusations had been based. In his opinion, an “open violation of the principle of defense in court” has been consummated. Luciani added, He has mounted his accusation on “issues that had never been raised & rdquor; during the judicial hearing. The court must decide whether to accept the vice president’s demand.
If Fernández de Kirchner were convicted in two judicial instances before the elections next year,or you can stand as a candidate. She has assured that the Supreme Court already has “written and drafted & rdquor; the sentence against him. As long as she serves as vice president, her privileges protect her from her even if she is the subject of an unappealable sentence.