The Argentine court announced this Tuesday whether to acquit or sentence Vice President Cristina Kirchner to prison in a case for alleged corruption when she was president (2007-2015). At 3:30 pm the verdict will be announced.
(Also: Cristina Kirchner reiterates her innocence and links the attack to the judicial “climate”)
Even if she is convicted, Kirchner will not go to prison for having privileges. It will be a first instance ruling that she opens a long course of appeals before being firm, which would allow her to run for any office in the 2023 general elections.
(You can read: Kirchner trial: they threaten with mobilizations and ‘stop the State’)
Since the start of the trial, in 2019, the 69-year-old former president maintained that her sentence “is written in advance” by denouncing that It is about “a political trial” that seeks to teach all Peronism.
Kirchner is accused, along with 12 other people, for the allegedly irregular awarding of public works contracts in the province of Santa Cruz (southern Argentina) during her two terms as president (2007-2015).
The prosecution requested 12 years in prison for her, considering her “head of an illegal association” and for fraud, in addition to requesting political disqualification from holding public office.
Kirchner said that beyond a conviction, will continue in politics.
“I will never give up my opinion and say what I think needs to be done to go out and build a better country for our people,” he warned.
In his final words before the court, Kirchner accused the judges of having “invented and misrepresented” the facts. “This is a firing squad,” he said.
The defense also questions the criminal figure of illicit association on which the prosecution built its accusation.
If the court takes only the figure of fraud, the maximum sentence is reduced to six years in prison. In both cases, perpetual disqualification from holding public office is applicable.
WILLIAM MORENO HERNANDEZ
*With information from EFE and AFP
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