Argentina's top court upholds guilty verdict against Kirchner that bans her from office
Supporters of Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner chant outside the Partido Justicialista (Justicialista Party) national building, ahead of a decision by Argentina's Supreme Court on her guilty verdict for defrauding the state, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Tomas Cuesta
People stand outside the Justice Palace after Argentina's Supreme Court upheld former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's guilty verdict for defrauding the state, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Lazaro Fernandez
People walk near the Justice Palace after Argentina's Supreme Court upheld former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's guilty verdict for defrauding the state, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Lazaro Fernandez
Argentina's former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner leaves her apartment for a meeting with lawmakers, ahead of a decision by Argentina's Supreme Court on her guilty verdict for defrauding the state, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 10, 2025. REUTERS/Tomas Cuesta
Argentina's top court upholds guilty verdict against Kirchner that bans her from office
BUENOS AIRES - Argentina's Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a guilty verdict that sentenced powerful two-term former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner to six years in prison for defrauding the state and banned her from public office.
Kirchner, 72, a polarizing figure and leftist who served as president from 2007 to 2015, was convicted by a trial court in 2022 for a fraud scheme that steered public road work projects in the Patagonia to a close ally while she was president.
Kirchner, Argentina's most starry politician in recent decades who has rockstar status among her supporters, has denied wrongdoing and claims she is a victim of political persecution.
The Supreme Court's three judges left in effect an appellate court decision that had previously upheld the guilty verdict. A lower court will decide whether to grant Kirchner house arrest due to her age.
The verdict is a blow for Kirchner, the Peronist's political grandee, though could galvanize the fragmented opposition movement ahead of midterm elections later this year where it will look to challenge libertarian President Javier Milei.
Kirchner had announced this month plans to run in legislative elections scheduled for September. REUTERS
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