MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Cristina Fernandez's first corruption trial confirmed for next Tuesday
Argentina's Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that ex-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's corruption trial can go ahead; after protesters demonstrated against rumours the case might be delayed. Trial is set to begin on Tuesday over accusations that CFK favoured businessman Lazaro Baez in the attribution of 52 public works contracts worth 46 billion pesos (US$1.2 billion) during her 2007-15 presidency. Read full article
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Disclaimer & comment rulesThis will be interesting - we'll finally get to see the evidence against her. I was beginning to think the cases would just hang around in limbo until the election.
May 17th, 2019 - 10:27 am - Link - Report abuse +1“Don't Cry For Me, Argentina!”
May 17th, 2019 - 11:46 am - Link - Report abuse 0I doubt she'll be convicted of anything except really bad acting and over abuse of Botox.
May 18th, 2019 - 12:21 am - Link - Report abuse +2This disgraceful episode clearly shows the Macri government absolute disrespect for the judiciary.
May 18th, 2019 - 04:49 pm - Link - Report abuse -1The Supreme Court’s original decision meant reviewing the case files and postponing the start of the trial, following numerous complaints from defense lawyers.
However, in just 24 hours, a ferocious campaign launched by government officials and the country’s main newspapers twisted the judges’ arms into reverting the postponing.
While vociferously accusing judges of supporting “impunity,” officials and most media conveniently skipped the reasons for the judges’ decision.
As the story does mention, judges will check allegations of irregularities in 52 public works contracts executed by Lázaro Báez in the Santa Cruz province during CFK’s term.
Early 2016, the current government appointed a team to conduct a preliminary audit that found no irregularities.
Undeterred, the government pressed ahead with a judicial case. Since then, defense lawyers have been requesting third-party audits be undertaken on the contracts and their execution.
Still, no audit was conducted for three years. Only last February the tribunal in charge commissioned audits...on five contracts. Those audits, containing basic information for the case, haven’t been completed yet.
That is why the Supreme Court requested to see the case files – no prudent judge would want to start a trial on flimsy evidence and risk the whole case to be thrown out later if the audits failed to demonstrate irregularities.
No matter. The trial will start now as the government wanted, but cannot end before the October election.
So why is the government so adamant in starting it now?
Simple. With an image worsening by the day, the government is desperate to erode Cristina’s soaring support. Macri needs a picture of CFK sitting as accused NOW.
As for the final outcome, he couldn’t care less.
Because by then, the October election will be over.
@Chicureo
May 26th, 2019 - 04:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0REF: really bad acting and over abuse of Botox.
In ONE visit to the UK; she CAN solve BOTH the issues!
DT
May 26th, 2019 - 06:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0DemonTree
“This will be interesting - we'll finally get to see the evidence against her.”
Cristina is asking for nothing else.
For instance, an audit on the said public works contracts and their execution that hasn't been performed as I noted above.
How on hell can you start a trial without knowing the basics, that is, whether there have been any irregularities?
Apparently, not a concern of prosecutors and judges.
If the evidence is that weak then they aren't going to get very far. Assuming Argentina has trial by jury.
May 26th, 2019 - 07:39 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Commenting for this story is now closed.
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