MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine judge shelves case against Nestor Kirchner

An Argentine Judge shelved on Monday a report requesting that former president Néstor Kirchner be probed for accusing the farmers of being coup-mongers.

Rafecas' decision came after prosecutor Federico Delgado requested that the case Judge Daniel Rafeca's decision came after prosecutor Federico Delgado requested that the case submitted by lawyer Ricardo Monner Sans be shelved

Delgado said that there was no attempt at public intimidation by the former president when he referred to an alleged plot to overthrow President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, amid the conflict over the grain export duties. He added that they were just "speculations" made during "political speeches". The phrase 'attempt of destabilization' was used as a symbolic resource, without giving further details," said Delgado, who added that "such political symbolism is not serious enough to justify punishment by state mechanisms." The prosecutor said that starting legal actions "would be irresponsible, because it would be like starting a legal file based on a declaration made within the context of a political party." Delgado explained that his office "has no problem investigating facts, as serious as they are, and without any regard as to the political position of those involved, as long as they are talking about facts and not speculations." The report presented by Monner Sans on July 14 said that Kirchner had publicly stated that there was "an attempt to disturb the constitutional order" by some farm leaders and rightwing political sectors, as well as "a strong bid to destabilize the country, to throw President Cristina Kirchner out of Government house." Monner Sans requested that "Kirchner be summoned to testify in a hearing to provide information in order to advance in the investigation to reassure the democratic stability of the country". BAH