The Argentine Federal Criminal Cassation Chamber confirmed the six-year prison sentence and permanent disqualification from holding public office imposed on former Argentine president Cristina Fernández for her involvement in irregularities in roadworks. The sentence, handed down by the Federal Oral Tribunal 2 in December 2022, was for the crime of fraudulent administration of public funds in the case known as 'Vialidad.'
In this case, anomalies in the awarding of 51 road construction projects to companies owned by businessman Lázaro Báez during the terms of the late Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández in Santa Cruz, a political stronghold of Kirchnerism, were investigated. The Chamber, composed of Mariano Borinsky, Gustavo Hornos, and Diego Barroetaveña, sentenced Fernández to six years in prison and a lifelong ban from holding public office for fraudulent management against the public administration.
This decision jeopardizes a potential candidacy of the former leader in the upcoming legislative elections, although Fernández is expected to appeal to the Supreme Court. In a previous statement, the former president accused her prosecution of being a 'proscription' against her and denounced the use of the 'Vialidad' case for political purposes aimed at her perpetual disqualification, undermining the impartiality of the judges and pointing to their relationships with former president Macri.
In addition to the confirmation of the fraud conviction in the administration of public funds, the Chamber dismissed the Prosecutor’s request to charge Fernández with illicit association and upheld the convictions of other implicated individuals, including Lázaro Báez, José López, and Nelson Periotti. On the other hand, the acquittals of Julio De Vido, Abel Fatala, Héctor Garro, and Carlos Kirchner in relation to this corruption case were confirmed.
The issued sentence imposes significant consequences for the former leader and her political future in Argentina, as well as for some of the figures involved in this corruption network in the South American country.
