Latest news with #CristinaFernandezdeKirchner
UPI
3 days ago
- Politics
- UPI
Cristina Fernández's conviction triggers Peronist reassessment
1 of 3 | Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (pictured at the inauguration of Pope Francis at St Peter's Square at the Vatican in March), was sentenced to six years of house arrest for defrauding the state of an estimated $500 million. File Photo by Stefano Spaziani/UPI | License Photo June 19 (UPI) -- In her first public appearance since her arrest, former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner addressed supporters in a recorded message Wednesday at a rally in Buenos Aires, where crowds gathered to proclaim her innocence. "At this stage, we need to get organized to clarify what the real problem is in our country. We will come back with more wisdom, more unity, and more strength," the former president said in the recording. Fernández was sentenced to six years of house arrest for defrauding the state of an estimated $500 million. Her arrest has, for now, unified Peronist factions around her image and message of resistance. Even factions within Kirchnerist Peronism that previously opposed her have been pushed to rally behind Fernández's narrative, in which she describes herself as "banned" and "imprisoned for standing up to the powerful." But that grassroots momentum faces growing pressure from Argentina's worsening economic crisis and a divided Peronist movement still struggling to form a unified electoral strategy. The first major test will come in September's Buenos Aires elections, followed by nationwide legislative races in October, where the party will need to shift from protest to political competition. For now, no clear leader has emerged to unite the Peronist movement. Meanwhile, a more radical, left-leaning faction is gaining ground under La Cámpora, a group led by former President Fernández's son, Máximo Kirchner. Labor unions under the General Confederation of Labor, or CGT -- long aligned with Peronism -- have expressed solidarity with Fernández. The CGT has encouraged members to mobilize but left participation to individual discretion. It remains unclear whether Peronist governors will continue to follow Fernández's lead --especially in provinces where President Javier Milei and his party, La Libertad Avanza, have gained significant ground. "The ruling against Cristina comes at a moment when Peronism is fragmented, clinging to outdated narratives and struggling to connect with the public's current demands," political analyst Juan Negri said in an interview with Infobae. "People today are more worried about making ends meet than about epic stories from the past." According to polling firm Opinaia, 69% of Argentines familiar with the Supreme Court ruling said they believe the decision was fair. Just 25% see Fernández as either innocent or the target of a political setup. The court ordered all those convicted in the so-called "Vialidad case," including Fernández, to repay funds embezzled through fraudulent administration. The original ruling estimated losses to the state at about $500 million. Judicial authorities are now updating that figure and seeking to recover the funds from Fernández's assets and those of her co-defendants.
The Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Thousands march in Buenos Aires as ex-president Kirchner starts house arrest
Supporters of Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner cheer outside her house, after an Argentine judge approved her request to serve out her six-year prison sentence for corruption at home, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Martin Cossarini BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of Argentines marched in the streets of Buenos Aires on Wednesday, banging drums and chanting in a show of support for ex-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as she started a six-year sentence under house arrest for corruption. Kirchner, a two-term president from 2007-2015, is the country's most prominent politician in recent decades, though her leftist brand of populism sharply divides opinion. She is the nemesis of current libertarian President Javier Milei. Supporters from her Peronist movement took to the streets with flares, giant posters with her image, and banners saying "Always With Cristina", a reflection of how she retains popular backing with her core supporter base. Kirchner, 72, claims the allegations against her are politically driven. "It was what they needed to get rid of her, so she wouldn't be in the (election) running. They knew she could beat them," said Laura Abal, 66, a pedicurist who took part in the march, referring to Kirchner's foiled plans to run as a local lawmaker. Kirchner has some 20% voter support, polls show, though is opposed by many who recall her interventionist policies. She still holds huge sway over the opposition Peronists, Argentina's dominant political bloc in the last half century. Argentina's Supreme Court last week upheld a 2022 conviction against Kirchner related to a fraud scheme involving public projects in the southern Patagonia region. That also included a lifetime ban from holding public political office. Some analysts say the detention could, though boost her image by making her a political martyr, adding she could potentially exercise influence from her Buenos Aires apartment where the judge ordered that she serve out her sentence due to her age. "Can I go out on my balcony or not?" Fernández humorously asked on Wednesday on the social network X, a reference to how she could rouse the crowds in the streets below in potential violation of court orders not to cause disruption. Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni on Wednesday avoided crowing over the sentence, though hailed the fact that "justice" had prevailed. "The arrest of a former president is not pleasant for any democracy, although, of course, it is a source of joy that justice exists and puts some things right," he said. (Reporting by Nicolas Misculin; Additional Reporting by Miguel Lo Bianco and Horacio Soria; Editing by Lucila Sigal, Adam Jourdan and Marguerita Choy)
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Thousands march in Buenos Aires as ex-president Kirchner starts house arrest
Supporters of Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner demonstrate after an Argentine judge approved her request to serve out her six-year prison sentence for corruption at home, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Matias Baglietto Supporters of Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner cheer outside her house, after an Argentine judge approved her request to serve out her six-year prison sentence for corruption at home, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 18, 2025. REUTERS/Martin Cossarini BUENOS AIRES - Tens of thousands of Argentines marched in the streets of Buenos Aires on Wednesday, banging drums and chanting in a show of support for ex-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as she started a six-year sentence under house arrest for corruption. Kirchner, a two-term president from 2007-2015, is the country's most prominent politician in recent decades, though her leftist brand of populism sharply divides opinion. She is the nemesis of current libertarian President Javier Milei. Supporters from her Peronist movement took to the streets with flares, giant posters with her image, and banners saying "Always With Cristina", a reflection of how she retains popular backing with her core supporter base. Kirchner, 72, claims the allegations against her are politically driven. "It was what they needed to get rid of her, so she wouldn't be in the (election) running. They knew she could beat them," said Laura Abal, 66, a pedicurist who took part in the march, referring to Kirchner's foiled plans to run as a local lawmaker. Kirchner has some 20% voter support, polls show, though is opposed by many who recall her interventionist policies. She still holds huge sway over the opposition Peronists, Argentina's dominant political bloc in the last half century. Argentina's Supreme Court last week upheld a 2022 conviction against Kirchner related to a fraud scheme involving public projects in the southern Patagonia region. That also included a lifetime ban from holding public political office. Some analysts say the detention could, though boost her image by making her a political martyr, adding she could potentially exercise influence from her Buenos Aires apartment where the judge ordered that she serve out her sentence due to her age. "Can I go out on my balcony or not?" Fernández humorously asked on Wednesday on the social network X, a reference to how she could rouse the crowds in the streets below in potential violation of court orders not to cause disruption. Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni on Wednesday avoided crowing over the sentence, though hailed the fact that "justice" had prevailed. "The arrest of a former president is not pleasant for any democracy, although, of course, it is a source of joy that justice exists and puts some things right," he said. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Barnama
5 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Argentina's Former President Kirchner To Serve 6-year Sentence Under House Arrest
Former Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner gestures from the balcony of her home after Argentina's Supreme Court upheld her guilty verdict for defrauding the state, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 16, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Lazaro Fernandez ISTANBUL, June 18 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner will serve a six-year sentence on corruption charges under house arrest, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported. The court determined that placing the 72-year-old Kirchner under house arrest was appropriate, citing her age and prominence as a political figure. It also referenced security concerns, noting Kirchner's survival of a 2022 assassination attempt, and said that her safety 'would become complex in a situation of prison confinement in coexistence with any type of prison population.' bootstrap slideshow According to the ruling, Kirchner must begin serving her sentence immediately. She will be monitored electronically and remain confined to her apartment in the capital, Buenos Aires, where she resides with her daughter and granddaughter. The court ordered that Kirchner 'must remain at the registered address, an obligation that she may not break except in exceptional situations.' It added that any future visitors to the apartment aside from household staff, medical personnel and other authorised individuals must first receive court approval. Kirchner was initially sentenced in 2022 to six years in prison and permanently banned from holding public office over corruption. However, she had remained free pending the Supreme Court's review of her appeal. Former President Carlos Menem died before serving a seven-year prison sentence in the case of illegal arms sales to Ecuador and Croatia, and he only served around six months of pretrial detention in 2001. -- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Argentine ex-President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner allowed to serve corruption sentence at home
Argentine ex-President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner allowed to serve corruption sentence at home (Image: AP) BUENOS AIRES: A federal court on Tuesday granted a request by former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to serve a six-year prison sentence for corruption at her home in Buenos Aires. Judges ruled that Fernandez, 72, can serve time in the apartment where she lives with her daughter and her granddaughter, citing her age and security reasons. Fernandez was the victim of an attempted assassination three years ago. In the ruling, obtained by The Associated Press, the court said Fernandez "must remain at the registered address, an obligation that she may not break except in exceptional situations." The court also ordered Fernandez be placed under the watch of an electronic surveillance device to monitor her movements. Last week, Argentina's highest court upheld Fernandez's sentence in a ruling that permanently banned her from public office over the corruption conviction that found she had directed state contracts to a friend while she was the first lady and president. The ruling against Fernandez, Argentina's charismatic yet deeply divisive ex-leader, sent her supporters pouring into the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital, and blocking major highways in protest. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo The ruling barred Fernandez from running in this fall's Buenos Aires legislative election just days after she launched her campaign. On Tuesday, the court dismissed prosecutors' request that Fernandez serve time behind bars. Judges said that the physical integrity of the political leader "would become complex in a situation of prison confinement in coexistence with any type of prison population." Seeking to serve the sentence at home, the former president had argued that she is more than 70 years old - an extenuating circumstance taken into account by the justice system to grant the privilege. Fernandez dominated Argentine politics for two decades and forged the country's main left-wing populist movement known as Kirchnerism - after her and her husband, former President Nestor Kirchner. She rejects the charges as politically motivated. During Fernandez's eight years in office from 2007-2015, Argentina expanded cash payments to the poor and pioneered major social assistance programs. Her governments funded unbridled state spending by printing money, bringing Argentina notoriety for major budget deficits and sky-high inflation. Critics blamed Argentina's years of economic volatility on Fernandez's policies, and outrage over successive economic crises and the country's bloated bureaucracy helped vault radical libertarian President Javier Milei to the presidency in late 2023. Fernandez was embroiled in multiple corruption scandals during her tenure. She was convicted in 2022 of corruption in a case that centred on 51 public contracts for public works awarded to companies linked to Lazaro Baez, a convicted construction magnate and friend of the presidential couple, at prices 20% above the standard rate in a project that cost the state tens of millions of dollars. Fernandez has questioned the impartiality of the judges. She claimed that her defence didn't have access to much of the evidence and that it was gathered without regard to legal deadlines. Fernandez faces a series of other upcoming trials on corruption charges.
