Hello, and welcome to the Latin America Weekly newsletter! In this issue: Argentinian VP Cristina Kirchner reacts to a six-year jail sentence. Chile’s Atacama Desert turns into a dump. And an indigenous footballer goes from hunger to glory.
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Cristina Kirchner to renounce immunity protections after six-year corruption sentence
Tuesday’s court ruling sentencing Argentinian Vice President Cristina Kirchner to six years in prison — plus a lifetime ban from holding office — will have long-term consequences for the country’s political system.
- The Peronist party leader has faced multiple corruption allegations, none of which had ever made it to sentencing before yesterday.
- Ms. Kirchner addressed the public minutes after the verdict, saying she will not run for any position in 2023, effectively renouncing immunity as of next year, when her term as VP expires.
The ruling. Facing two counts, the former two-term president was found guilty of defrauding the state, but innocent of leading an illicit ring to hand public works contracts to friendly businessmen during her time as president, between 2007 and 2015.
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