Christina Kirchner condemns the offensive, political investigation of Peronism
Threatened with 12 years in prison and disqualification, the former Argentine president, a figurehead of Peronism, protested strongly on Tuesday against the sentence handed down against him the previous day.
Christina Kirchner on August 23, 2022 in Buenos Aires.
AFP
Argentina’s Vice President Cristina Kirchner (left), who was sentenced to 12 years in prison and life in prison in a corruption trial, defended herself on Tuesday in an offensive and political speech, “Inquisition of Peronism,” her political movement.
“The sentence was written”, Christina Kirchner announced a long “apology” live on social networks, where the lawyer by training contested the merits of the prosecution in this trial for corruption in the case of awarding public contracts under him. Presidency (2007 to 2015). “Nothing, nothing the prosecutors said was proven,” he said throughout his hour-and-a-half speech, brandishing excerpts from documents, accounting tables, journal articles and excerpts of emails.
Later, in a clear politicization, he confirmed, “This is not a trial against me, this is a trial of Peronism, national and popular governments.” “12 years of the best government that Argentina has had in recent decades is 12 years (in prison),” he said. “They’re not after me, they’re after you!”
Christina Kirchner, 69, spoke from her office in the Senate, of which she is president, which has given her parliamentary immunity and should keep her from jail. Immunity will not continue unless the Supreme Court confirms a possible sentence, or after the general election at the end of 2023. After weeks of pleadings by the defense – co-defendants number 13 – only a verdict is expected in the case. At the end of the year.
The vice president decided to defend himself through social media after Monday’s denial of additional testimony at the hearing requested by his lawyer.
“Impartiality”
Outside the Senate, a few hundred supporters who had been waiting for him greeted his arrival, then gave a long ovation as he greeted them from the balcony after he spoke. Others waited at her home in the early hours of Tuesday morning to celebrate her as she left for the Upper House.
A sign of Christina Kirchner’s political influence, so popular but divisive, several hundred demonstrators, both pro and anti-Kirchner, spontaneously gathered near her home on Monday evening after the request, creating tense moments. Numbers to keep the two camps separate.
Reactions to Kirchner’s indictment and counterattack on Tuesday once again illustrated the deep polarization of Argentine politics, which has not spared justice. Both the government and the opposition accuse each other of instrumentalizing judges, depending on whether a practice targets one politician or the other camp.
Justice Minister Martin Soria on Tuesday rejected the process, saying the “impartiality of the court and (lawyers) was exposed” and denied her request for additional testimony, accusing her of refusing to “defend herself”. .
On Monday, President Alberto Fernández, a lawyer by profession and a professor of criminal law, “condemned” the “legal and media harassment against the vice president” for his role, “no action has been imposed” ) has been proven.
Cristina Kirchner received signs of support on Tuesday from leaders of the South American left or former Bolivian President Evo Morales, former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff or Honduran President Xiomara Castro.
AFP
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