Buenos Aires, June 11, 2025 – In a landmark ruling, Argentina’s Supreme Court has upheld a six-year prison sentence and a lifetime ban from public office for former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, marking a decisive end to one of the country’s most polarizing political careers. The decision, announced on June 10, stems from the high-profile “Vialidad” corruption case, which has gripped the nation for nearly a decade.
The court’s unanimous decision confirms Kirchner’s 2022 conviction for fraudulent administration, related to the awarding of 51 public works contracts in Santa Cruz province to companies owned by her close associate, Lázaro Báez, during her presidency (2007–2015). Prosecutors alleged that the contracts, worth millions, were part of a scheme to defraud the state, with nearly half of the projects left incomplete. Báez, already serving a 12-year sentence for money laundering, was also convicted in the case.
Kirchner, 72, has fiercely denied the charges, calling the ruling a politically motivated attack orchestrated by her opponents, including the administration of libertarian President Javier Milei. Addressing supporters outside the Justicialist Party headquarters in Buenos Aires, she accused the Supreme Court’s three justices of being “puppets acting on orders from above” and vowed to appeal to international human rights organizations. “They want me in prison or dead,” she declared, echoing claims of persecution that have rallied her base.
The ruling has profound implications for Argentina’s political landscape, particularly as midterm elections loom later this year. Kirchner, a towering figure in the Peronist movement, had recently announced her candidacy for a seat in the Buenos Aires provincial legislature, a move that would have granted her immunity from serving the sentence. The Supreme Court’s decision effectively blocks her electoral ambitions, dealing a blow to the fragmented opposition.
“This is a historic moment for Argentina’s judiciary,” said constitutional law expert Alejandro Carrió. “The court has sent a clear message that no one is above the law, but it remains to be seen how this will reshape the political dynamics of the left.”
Due to her age, Kirchner is likely to request house arrest rather than serve time in prison, a provision often granted under Argentine law for those over 70. The Federal Oral Tribunal No. 2 has given her five days to present herself to make the sentence effective.
The “Vialidad” case, which began in 2016, has been a lightning rod for controversy. Kirchner’s supporters argue that the investigation was marred by irregularities and point to her survival of a 2022 assassination attempt as evidence of a broader conspiracy against her. Meanwhile, critics, including Milei’s allies, hail the ruling as a victory for accountability, accusing Kirchner of leading a corrupt regime that siphoned public funds.
The decision also comes amid heightened political tension. Earlier this year, Kirchner’s Justicialist bloc in the Senate blocked Milei’s nominees to fill two vacant Supreme Court seats, a move some analysts see as linked to the timing of this ruling.
Kirchner’s conviction makes her the second former Argentine president to face a prison sentence since the country’s return to democracy in 1983, following Carlos Menem, who was convicted of embezzlement and weapons trafficking but never served time due to senatorial immunity. Unlike Menem, Kirchner has exhausted her appeals, leaving her with few legal options.
As protests erupt in Buenos Aires, with supporters blocking roads and rallying outside the Supreme Court, the ruling has reignited debates over justice, political vendettas, and the future of Peronism. For now, Kirchner’s fate is sealed, but her influence on Argentina’s left—and the nation’s deeply divided electorate—remains undeniable.
Sources: Reuters, France24, Argentina Reports, Buenos Aires Herald, The New York Times
