BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina's former president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, has formally requested to serve her definitive six-year sentence for corruption at home. This request comes just a day after Argentina's Supreme Court of Justice definitively upheld her conviction for fraudulent administration in public works contracts in Santa Cruz province, ordering her to appear before a federal court within five days.
Fernandez's legal team told reporters on June 12 (local time) that they are "requesting house arrest for those over 70 years of age." The lawyers emphasized that they are "not asking for a privilege, but for the same treatment as other people in the same legal situation," highlighting that Fernandez is 72 years old. In addition, they raised concerns about her safety, referencing the 2022 assassination attempt on Fernandez. At that time, a man pulled the trigger of a handgun twice near Fernandez's head, but the bullet did not fire, and the mastermind behind the incident remains unknown.
Claims of Political Persecution and International Response
Fernandez's defense team has strongly criticized the ruling, calling it the result of "political persecution." Lawyer Gregorio Dalbon officially denounced "the political persecution suffered by a major opposition leader to the ultra-liberal government of Javier Milei" to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands. Dalbon claimed on his X (formerly Twitter) account that "this conviction is the result of a corrupt process, manipulated from the beginning to achieve political goals, against the woman who has received the most votes since Argentina's return to democracy." He added that they would also raise the issue with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Fernandez herself strongly rejected the verdict. On Tuesday, she accused the Supreme Court justices of being "puppets," asserting that "the verdict was written even before the trial began." Thousands of supporters gathered in front of Fernandez's home after hearing the Supreme Court's decision, and she occasionally appeared on her balcony to greet and thank her fervent supporters.
Mixed Reactions: 'Justice Served' vs. 'Political Repression'
Reactions within Argentina to the Supreme Court's ruling have been starkly divided. President Javier Milei, currently on a visit to Israel, expressed his satisfaction with the decision by posting a short message on X: "Justice. The end." Security Minister Patricia Bullrich also defended the ruling, stating, "Three instances, hundreds of pieces of evidence, and all guarantees of due process. Justice has been served."
Conversely, Fernandez's supporters have strongly condemned the ruling and have continued daily protests. Hundreds of supporters gathered in front of her residence on Wednesday morning, following thousands who had remained by her side the previous night. In Buenos Aires' city center, at Plaza de Mayo, medical staff from Garrahan Children's Hospital, who have been demanding wage increases for weeks, protested alongside retirees in weekly demonstrations against the Milei government.
Yanina (last name withheld), a 32-year-old nurse, told AFP, "Some colleagues say they can't take care of their own children, so how can they take care of other children?" She described the atmosphere at the protest, filled with chants and signs supporting Fernandez and denouncing "political repression."
Additionally, students at the University of Buenos Aires occupied several faculties on Tuesday, demanding the "defense of democratic rights," and some labor unions blocked access roads to Buenos Aires. The ruling has caused significant political repercussions in Argentine society and is expected to have a considerable impact on the country's future political landscape.
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