Argentina's top court ends Kirchner's political era

Argentina's top court ends Kirchner's political era

In Argentina, the Supreme Court has the political career of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner , the former president who held a total of two terms of office. In addition, a six -year sentence was confirmed to her, which pushed one of the most controversial personalities in the Argentine political history to the edge.

clear judgment and political consequences

The 72-year-old Kirchner, who was acting as President from 2007 to 2015, was convicted of fraud in 2022. It was accused of having led public road construction projects in Patagonia to a close confidante. This decision has destroyed its plans to participate in the provincial twisting in Buenos Aires, but could motivate their split peronistic opposition, which have been looking for a new direction since the change of power to President Javier Milei in 2023.

reactions and resistance on the street

The judgment is heavily criticized by Kirchner's supporters. In Buenos Aires, their supporters blocked streets, drummed and swiveled banners with the image of Evita Perón, the wife of the founder of the political movement, Juan Perón. Kirchner himself described the judges of the Supreme Court as a "triumvirate of the unforgettable", while they spoke in front of thousands of supporters who gathered in front of the headquarters of their peronistic Justicialista party.

The future of the peronistic movement

The challenges for the peronistic movement are enormous. According to the political analyst Carlos Fara, Kirchner's absence will not mean the end of her political movement, but the dynamics will definitely change. A government source noticed that the opposition could either be weakened or strengthened by the decision. This means that peronism could either consolidate or crumble into a thousand pieces.

allegations and previous developments

Procurator that hundreds of millions of dollars to have led to the building contractor Lázaro Báez. During her term and her late husband, Néstor Kirchner, companies controlled by Báez received numerous contracts for road construction projects in Patagonia, almost half of which were subscribed to. In the meantime, Báez already received a prison sentence.

criticism and economic challenges

in recent years, Kirchner's popularity has suffered considerably, as well as that of the peronistic movement. Under President Alberto Fernández, to whom she served as Vice President in 2019, Argentina experienced an economic setback that was associated with massive money creation and an open increase in inflation. Nevertheless, it has a loyal support for the parties, especially among working voters who were dependent on the subsidies of their and her husband.

conflict with the current president

recently expressed sharp criticism of President Milei's austerity policy, to whom she accused her of shortening pensions and underfunding public education. Milei countered with the words that he would "like to beat the last nail into the coffin of churchnerism, with Cristina Kirchner in it". These tensions illustrate the deep cracks in the Argentine political landscape.

legal challenges and upcoming processes

Kirchner is not only faced with the current judgment. She has several other criminal charges on the neck and will be on trial in November because of the management of a large -scale bribery system. She is not the first Argentine President who is faced with a criminal conviction; For example, former President Carlos Menem was convicted of embezzling public funds in the 1990s, but enjoyed immunity as a senator.