The oral trial to which the Vice President of Argentina, Cristina Fernández, is subjected, for alleged irregularities in the concession of public works during her Government (2007-2015), faces this Monday the beginning of the phase of her defense allegations.
The attack suffered last Thursday by the former president at the doors of her home in the Recoleta neighborhood of the capital marks the new phase of this trial, in which the accused must appear before the Federal Oral Court (TOF) 2 of Buenos Aires.
Fernández’s lawyers must present their defense arguments within two weeks; For the moment, the former president of the General Administration of Roads of the province of Santa Cruz (south) from 2005 to 2006, Héctor Garro, will be the first to appear.
The Prosecutor’s Office had requested three years in prison for alleged fraudulent administration for Garro, who will be physically present, while the rest of those involved in the case will follow the hearing by videoconference.
The oral trial will resume in the midst of a different context after the attack against Cristina Fernández, for whom prosecutors Diego Luciani and Sergio Mola requested 12 years in prison and perpetual disqualification from holding public office.
According to the hearing schedule set by TOF 2, Fernández will have to present his defense on September 19 and each defendant will have up to three opportunities to present their arguments.
The former president is accused of the crimes of illicit association and fraudulent administration of public funds, due to alleged irregularities in the concession of 51 public works to firms of businessman Lázaro Báez during her term and that of her husband, the late Néstor Kirchner (2003 -2007), in Santa Cruz, the political cradle of Kirchnerism.
After the prosecutor’s request for imprisonment, the vice president assured that there is no evidence against her and that none of those summoned to testify during the trial supported the version of the prosecutors, whom she blamed for adopting a “script” from the media. communication related to the current political opposition.
In mid-August, Fernández considered that “the sentence was already written”, blamed the “lawfare” (judicial or legal war) and assured that this process seeks to “discipline the political class”.
During a defense that he made public on social networks, Fernández said: “This judicial party is not only going to stigmatize us, the Peronists, the Kirchnerists, national and popular, (but) it is going to protect them.”
In this sense, the former president had indicated that the 12 years of requesting pressure have to do with “condemning” her two completed terms and the four years of her husband, the late Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007).
“This is not a trial of Cristina Fernández, this is a trial of Peronism, of the national and popular governments,” he assured then. EFE
