Argentina - December 2022

Argentina’s Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was sentenced to six years in prison and a lifetime ban from holding public office on 6 December after a federal court found her guilty of corruption. She is the first serving vice-president ever to be convicted for corruption, accused of fraud and illicit administration of public contracts during her presidency from 2007 to 2015. Fernandez is expected to appeal and will avoid jail due to her immunity as a lawmaker. The historic case has highlighted the deep political division in the country and intensifying tensions between the government and Supreme Court.

Fernandez has denied all charges and labelled them as politically motivated. President Alberto Fernández delivered a national broadcast in her support and announced the justice ministry would request that public prosecutors investigate federal judges, alleging their participation in a bribery scheme along with political rivals conspiring against Vice-President Fernández.

Sources: El Pais, Reuters, Al Jazeera, Clarin, The New York Times, La Nacion