Argentina’s Supreme Court Confirms Six-Year Prison Sentence for Former President Fernández Due to Corruption

Argentina’s Supreme Court has upheld a six-year prison sentence for former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, effectively barring her from public office due to a corruption conviction. The court found that during her tenure as both first lady and president, she directed state contracts to a close friend. This landmark ruling, made on Tuesday, has sparked significant public unrest, with supporters of Fernández flooding the streets of Buenos Aires and blocking major highways in protest.

The court has requested the security ministry to establish a detention center for the 72-year-old Fernández. Her defense lawyer argued for house arrest due to her age. Additionally, the ruling bars her from participating in the upcoming Buenos Aires legislative elections, shortly after she had announced her candidacy.

Fernández, a central figure in Argentine politics for two decades and the leader of the Kirchnerist movement, has labeled the charges against her as politically motivated. During her presidency from 2007 to 2015, she expanded social programs for the impoverished, though her administration was criticized for excessive state spending and high inflation, contributing to economic instability in Argentina. This turmoil ultimately facilitated the rise of radical libertarian President Javier Milei in late 2023.

The Supreme Court’s ruling also addresses previous corruption scandals involving Fernández during her presidency. In a 2022 conviction, she was implicated in a scheme awarding inflated public contracts to companies linked to a friend, resulting in substantial financial losses for the state. In response to the verdict, Fernández condemned the judges as “puppets” serving powerful interests beyond their control.

Her legal team intends to take the case to international human rights organizations as she faces further trials related to corruption charges.