The Prosecutor’s Office in Argentina has requested a twelve-year prison term and permanent disqualification from public office for the vice president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. The filing accuses her of involvement in an alleged scheme to defraud the state through public works contracts in Santa Cruz. The Public Ministry tallies the alleged loss at 5,231 million pesos, more than 39 million euros, a figure that also implicates the late husband of the vice president and other former officials, including Néstor Kirchner and former minister Julio de Vido.
Prosecutor Diego Luciani has named all defendants, including businessman Lázaro Báez, seeking an entry of public-service disqualification. Fernández is among those facing this measure, though she has consistently argued that many charges amount to political persecution.
“As head of state at the time, he defrauded the state and its citizens,” the prosecutor asserted. According to La Nación, Luciani added that Fernández placed personal interests ahead of the public good.
The vice president did not attend this portion of the proceedings after being temporarily relieved from her post. She posted a surprise message on Twitter, signaling a request to delay or reinterpret certain aspects of the indictment that prosecutors had included, claiming new issues had been raised.
Criticism has focused on the reasons and evidence behind the case. Observers noted that the oral hearing lacked decisive proof and that some witness statements appeared to raise questions not originally lined up in the charges, potentially limiting the defense’s ability to respond. The exchange prompted commentary from Cristina Kirchner on social media, emphasizing concerns about the process.
Support from the President and the Government
After the prosecution demanded punishment, President Alberto Fernández spoke publicly, calling the day a difficult one for someone with a lengthy legal background who has shown support and solidarity for Fernández. The broader government argued that the case reflects judicial and media pressure against the vice president, insisting that none of the acts presented as wrongdoing had been proven and that justice was being manipulated to serve political ends.
As the defense prepared its closing arguments, scheduled for early September, observers noted that a conviction could trigger a lengthy sequence of appeals. It is possible that the final ruling would take years to resolve, potentially delaying both disqualification and any prison term through successive legal challenges.