Fernandez de Kirchner Christina (Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner)

Fernandez de Kirchner Christina (Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner)

Biography

2022: Sentence - 6 years in prison for bribes while running the country

On December 6, 2022, an Argentine court sentenced Vice President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to six years in prison and deprived her of the right to hold public office in connection with a high-profile corruption scandal.

Fernandez de Kirchner, 69, was found guilty of fraudulent management to the detriment of public interests. According to the case file, as president of Argentina from 2007 to 2015, she participated in a number of corruption schemes, including the provision of large construction contracts. The contracts are said to have been in exchange for bribes from "kickbacks." In addition, she was charged with abuse of power, using her official position in her own interests and hiding alleged criminals.

Prosecutors demanded 12 years in prison for Fernandez de Kirchner, but the sentence was twice as lenient. Moreover, the defendant has immunity due to her position in the government, and therefore has not yet gone to jail. She is also expected to begin a lengthy appeals process, so the proceedings could be seriously delayed.

Prosecutors say the investigation found irregularities in dozens of public works tenders in the southern province of Santa Cruz. Many projects have not been completed, and the damage caused to Argentina is estimated at at least $1 billion. Prosecutor Diego Luciani called the investigation "probably the largest corruption operation the country has known." The case caused a wide public outcry, and an attempt was made on the accused on September 1, 2022: they tried to shoot her with a pistol, but the weapon jammed. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner herself categorically denies all accusations against her: according to her statements, the case is politically motivated.^[1]

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