Argentine Vice-President Cristina Kirchner was sentenced on Tuesday December 6 to six years in prison, even if her parliamentary immunity preserves her from it, and to life ineligibility, after a trial for fraud and corruption. The alleged facts date back to his presidential mandates, between 2007 and 2015.
Cristina Kirchner, 69, was found guilty “fraudulent administration” to the detriment of the State, in this trial relating to the awarding of public contracts in her political stronghold of Santa Cruz (South), while she herself ruled the country.
Twelve years in prison had been requested in August against the senator, who has always denied any embezzlement, and denounced a political trial conducted according to her by judges instrumentalized by the right-wing opposition, in particular the camp “macrist”in reference to his successor to the presidency (2015-2019), the liberal Mauricio Macri.
Assassination attempt in August
Her position as President of the Senate, synonymous with parliamentary immunity, will save Cristina Kirchner from prison. The immunity would continue if she regains a mandate in the general elections of October 2023. Her sentence could only be effective after several appeals, including possibly before the Supreme Court, which could take several years.
In August, the indictment triggered large demonstrations of support for Mme Kirchner, in several cities in Argentina, and several evenings under the windows of his home in Buenos Aires, resulting in clashes with the police. It is in this context that the 1er September, a gunman emerged from the crowd in an attempt to assassinate the ex-president, pointing his gun inches from her face and pulling the trigger, but no bullets came out.
Eight of the twelve co-accused in the trial, including a building contractor, former officials of the road works organization, were sentenced to terms of three and a half to six years in prison. Three others were released, while another received a prescription.