Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Faces Prison Time as Supreme Court Upholds Corruption Conviction

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, a controversial figure in Argentine politics, was sentenced to prison and denied future public office after the Supreme Court validated a corruption conviction against her. This decision solidifies a six-year sentence given by a lower court, following charges that she defrauded the government during her presidency from 2007 to 2015. Despite plans for a political resurgence, Kirchner's situation is strained further by recent political violence and civil unrest.

The Supreme Court’s ruling is anticipated to exacerbate existing political divides, particularly as Kirchner's supporters demonstrated outside of Buenos Aires prior to the announcement. Protesters disrupted major highways in the area, while labor unions prepared for potential national strikes in retaliation against the court's decision. Notably, Kirchner's conviction comes on the heels of an attempted assassination three years prior, highlighting her contentious relationship with current President Javier Milei, who hails from the opposing political faction.

The court dismissed Kirchner's last appeal, confirming the prior verdict and its associated six-year sentence. Given her age—she is 72—Argentine law permits the likelihood of house arrest instead of serving time in prison. Constitutional law expert Andrés Gil Domínguez stated that while she may initially be detained at a police station, a judge will soon decide her fate regarding home confinement. This uncertain future adds another layer to the already charged political atmosphere in Argentina.