Argentina awaits VP Cristina Fernández corruption verdict
IndependentDec 24, 2022
Argentina: VP Sentenced to Six Years on Corruption Charges
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Image copyright: Getty Images [via CNN]
The Facts
On Tuesday, Argentina's VP Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was sentenced to six years in prison and disqualified from holding public office after a federal court in Buenos Aires found her guilty of corruption during her earlier terms as president.
The three-judge panel declared Fernández de Kirchner guilty of "fraudulent administration to the detriment of the state" for public work contracts in her stronghold province of Santa Cruz from 2007 to 2015, but rejected the charge that she ran a criminal organization.
The Spin
Left narrative
This is a political witch hunt and disgrace to Argentina. Economic powers on the right are uniting to take down their political opponents in an unacceptable form of thuggery. The people of Argentina must stand behind their vice president and condemn this political persecution.
Right narrative
While Fernández de Kirchner and her supporters may claim foul play from the court, there's plenty of evidence that during the Kirchner rule, their family friend Báez was favored in public-works contracts. Yet, it's unlikely that she will be arrested in the coming years as this case could reach Argentina's Supreme Court, and a seat in Congress would be enough to grant her immunity.
