Latin America

Cristina Kirchner’s fight with judiciary escalates as corruption verdict nears

Argentina’s influential vice president is accused of favoring friendly businessmen in public works contracts while president. She faces sentencing on Tuesday

"We want you arrested," reads sign by anti Kirchner demonstrators in Buenos Aires. Photo: Mariano Gaspar/Shutterstock
“Cristina, thief, we want to see you and your henchmen in jail,” reads sign by anti-Kirchner demonstrators in Buenos Aires. Photo: Mariano Gaspar/Shutterstock

Argentinian Vice President Cristina Kirchner has been trying to make peace with some of the powerful actors she has clashed with over the past decade, including the U.S., her own party’s right wing, and even an unsuccessful bid to set up talks with opposition leader Mauricio Macri.

But her conflict with Argentina’s judiciary has continued to escalate. The former two-time president disobeyed a Supreme Court order last month, and also called for the judge investigating her attempted assassination to be recused.

The clash could intensify further this week, as a corruption trial that has the former two-time president as the main suspect nears sentencing, with the court expected to issue its verdict on December 6.

Earlier this year, Prosecutor Diego Luciani asked for Ms. Kirchner to be punished with a 12-year jail sentence and a lifetime ban from public office, prompting a series of public protests of which would-be-murderer Fernando Sabag Montiel tried to take advantage to assassinate her.

As Ms. Kirchner greeted her supporters in the streets, Mr. Montiel brandished a gun on the vice president at point-blank range and pulled the trigger — but the weapon jammed.

In such climate of violence and political polarization, political analysts are wondering whether the risks of exacerbating tensions will weigh on the minds of the judges tasked with deciding on Ms. Kirchner’s final sentence — as well those who will deal with the inevitable appeal process later, regardless of the precise facts alleged by the prosecutors.

In any case, political considerations will play a role, meaning that understanding the power dynamics behind the case will be indispensable.

From friends to enemies

The...

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