(Buenos Aires) Argentinian Vice-President Cristina Kirchner was sentenced on Tuesday to 6 years in prison, even if her parliamentary immunity preserves her, and life ineligibility, in a trial for fraud and corruption during her presidential mandates from 2007 to 2015.
Cristina Kirchner, 69, was found guilty of “fraudulent administration” to the detriment of the state, in this trial relating to the awarding of public contracts in her political stronghold of Santa Cruz (south), during her two terms as president .
Twelve years in prison, as well as ineligibility, had been requested in August against Mme Kirchner.
The former head of state (center left), who seven years after her departure from the presidency remains an essential figure, as much as divisive, of Argentine politics, has always denied any wrongdoing.
And she denounced, since the start of the procedure in 2019, a “political” trial, led by judges, according to her, instrumentalized by the right-wing opposition, in particular the “macrist” camp, in reference to her successor. the presidency (2015-2019), the liberal Mauricio Macri.
Her position as President of the Senate, synonymous with parliamentary immunity, will save Cristina Kirchner from prison. An immunity that would last if she found a mandate in the general elections of October 2023.
A sentence could only be effective after several appeals, including possibly before the Supreme Court, which could take several years.
Mme Kirchner could react at the end of the afternoon to the verdict.
In August, the indictment – 12 years old – had triggered large demonstrations of support for Mme Kirchner, in several cities in Argentina, and several evenings under the windows of his home in Buenos Aires, resulting in clashes with the police.
However, the imminence of the verdict has so far only generated a relatively modest mobilization. No strong directive in this direction has emanated in recent days from the entourage of the vice-presidency, according to close sources.
A few hundred supporters – trade unionists, members of Peronist organizations – were gathered calmly in the afternoon near the court, desperately seeking shade in the high heat, AFP noted.
Eight of the twelve co-defendants in the trial, including a building contractor, former officials of the road works organization, were sentenced to terms of three and a half to six years in prison. Three others were released, one received a prescription.