Cristina Kirchner's Legal Challenges Continue Amid Political Maneuvering
Cristina Kirchner, the former president of Argentina, is facing significant legal challenges as an appeals court has upheld her six-year prison sentence for corruption. This ruling, confirmed on November 13, 2024, by the Argentine Court of Appeals, ratifies a previous conviction related to the so-called “Vialidad case,” where Kirchner was found guilty of maintaining corrupt ties with businessman Lázaro Báez. The court determined that she was the head of a corrupt organization that misappropriated state funds amounting to approximately 84.8 billion pesos (around 84 million dollars).
Despite the ruling, Kirchner plans to appeal to the Supreme Court, which could take years to reach a decision. In the meantime, she remains active in politics, set to assume the presidency of the Justicialist Party on November 17, 2024. Kirchner aims to consolidate her party's influence in the face of the current government led by Javier Milei, especially as the 2025 legislative elections approach.
Judicial Proceedings and Implications for Kirchner
The legal proceedings against Kirchner have been characterized by complex procedural steps. Following the appeals court's decision, she has 20 working days to file an extraordinary appeal, which will then be reviewed by the Court of Cassation. If the Cassation court rejects her appeal, Kirchner can escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. However, judicial sources indicate that the Supreme Court may not address her appeal until March 2025, after the retirement of Judge Juan Carlos Maqueda, leaving only three judges to decide her fate.
If the Supreme Court upholds the conviction, Kirchner, who is over 70 years old, would likely face house arrest instead of prison time. Legal experts note that the Supreme Court rarely overturns convictions that have passed through multiple judicial levels, suggesting that Kirchner's chances of overturning her sentence may be slim.
Political Landscape and Kirchner's Future
As Kirchner navigates her legal battles, she is also focused on reorganizing the Peronist party to strengthen its position against the government of Javier Milei. Her strategy includes rallying support among party members and preventing further losses in the upcoming elections. Kirchner has publicly stated that she views the legal actions against her as politically motivated, referring to it as “lawfare,” a term used to describe the use of legal systems to undermine political opponents.
The political dynamics within the Peronist party are tense, with some governors opposing Kirchner's leadership style. Nevertheless, she remains determined to reclaim influence and prevent Milei from expanding his legislative power in the 2025 elections.
