Argentina Supreme Court Upholds Six-Year Sentence for Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Bans Her from Public Office
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 11
- 2 min read
Argentina’s Supreme Court has upheld a six-year prison sentence and lifetime ban from public office for former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, sealing her corruption conviction and igniting widespread political unrest in the country.
The ruling, handed down Tuesday, stems from a 2022 conviction in which Fernández was found guilty of directing 51 public works contracts to a close associate—construction magnate Lázaro Báez—during her time as both first lady and president. The contracts, awarded at inflated prices, are estimated to have cost the Argentine state roughly $70 million.
The Supreme Court declared the conviction final, rejecting Fernández’s appeal. In its resolution, the court described the case as involving “an extraordinary fraudulent maneuver” and emphasized the ruling as a defense of Argentina’s “republican and democratic system.” The verdict prevents Fernández from participating in this year’s Buenos Aires legislative elections, only days after she announced her candidacy.
Now 72 years old, Fernández may face arrest after the court instructed Argentina’s security ministry to arrange for her detention. Her lawyer, Carlos Beraldi, has formally requested house arrest due to her age.
The decision triggered an immediate and intense response from Fernández’s supporters. Thousands of demonstrators flooded Buenos Aires and blocked major highways in protest. In a more violent turn, groups of protesters stormed the offices of television networks Channel 13 and Todo Noticias—outlets widely viewed as critical of the former president—damaging vehicles, smashing windows, and destroying equipment. No injuries were reported.
Fernández, a dominant figure in Argentine politics for two decades, denounced the court’s decision in a fiery speech outside her party’s headquarters. “They’re three puppets answering to those ruling far above them,” she declared, referring to the justices. “It’s not the opposition. It’s the concentrated economic power of Argentina’s government.”
She maintains that the charges are politically motivated and has vowed to continue fighting. Her legal team, including lawyer Gregorio Dalbón, announced plans to escalate the case to international human rights organizations. Fernández has also claimed her defense was denied access to critical evidence and that procedures were violated during the investigation.
During her presidency from 2007 to 2015, Fernández expanded Argentina’s welfare programs and steered the country toward a left-wing populist direction known as Kirchnerism, a political movement she built with her late husband and former president, Néstor Kirchner. However, her tenure was also marked by rampant inflation, deepening deficits, and growing accusations of corruption.
Critics argue that Fernández’s policies fueled Argentina’s ongoing economic crises. Discontent with the political establishment ultimately helped usher in the radical libertarian presidency of Javier Milei in 2023. Milei celebrated Tuesday’s ruling on social media, posting simply: “Justice. Period.”
The ruling is expected to significantly weaken opposition forces in a pivotal midterm election year. Fernández is still facing several other trials on additional corruption charges, casting a long shadow over her political legacy and the future of Kirchnerism in Argentina.
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