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Associated Press
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Remarks by Trump's pick for ambassador spark a political storm in Argentina
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump's choice for ambassador to Buenos Aires sparked a storm Wednesday over his remarks that Argentina's powerful ex-president should face justice in cases in which she was never convicted and his pledges to use his posting as a bulwark against China. Opposition politicians in Argentina accused Peter Lamelas, Trump's nominee for ambassador to the second-biggest South American country, of violating diplomatic conventions, interfering in Argentine domestic affairs and meddling in judicial matters. Argentine media went into fifth gear with their coverage of Lamelas. Lawmakers introduced a bill in Congress rejecting his remarks as 'an unacceptable interference in matters of national sovereignty.' Trade unions planned a mass protest for Thursday outside the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires. The Cuban-born Lamelas, a physician, founder of a chain of urgent care clinics in Florida and longtime Trump donor, would otherwise be stepping into the role at a time when the relationship between Argentina and the United States is at its strongest in recent memory. The testimony Lamelas spoke on Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on his nomination. He said he would support Trump's ally, right-wing Argentine President Javier Milei, in ensuring that the country's former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner — now serving a six-year sentence on corruption charges under house arrest — gets the 'the justice that she well deserves' in cases unrelated to her current sentence. He also claimed her house arrest was a result of 'political favoritism,' although it is common practice in Argentina for those convicted over the age of 70. Fernández, the most prominent figure in Argentina's left-leaning Peronist opposition movement, which holds a majority in Congress, did not mince words when she posted her reaction. 'The only thing he didn't say was that he'd appoint the courts himself,' she said. Referencing scandals roiling the U.S., such including the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, she added: 'They should clean their own house before commenting on ours.' There was no immediate comment on the hearing from libertarian Milei, elected in 2023 on a wave of public outrage over the failed economic policies of Fernández and other left-leaning populist predecessors. Milei has repeatedly praised Trump and replicated his policies — including by following the U.S. in pulling Argentina from The World Health Organization — and recently dined and posed for friendly photos with Lamelas at Trump's opulent Mar-a-Lago club. 'LAMELAS GO HOME,' wrote Axel Kicillof, the governor of Buenos Aires, Argentina's most populous province, on X. 'Lamelas' statements evoke the darkest times of United States interference in the democratic life of our region,' he added. The controversy Lamelas waded into a controversy Tuesday when remarking on the alleged role of Fernández, Milei's political enemy, in the cover-up to obstruct the investigation into the 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people and wounded more than 300. While several people, including a former federal judge and a former head of the intelligence services, have been convicted for helping to stymie the investigation into the attack, Fernández has yet to stand trial on cover-up charges. She denies the allegations. In his testimony, Lamelas contended that Fernández was 'definitely involved in the cover-up,' without elaborating or saying why he believes this. As ambassador, he would support 'Milei and the Milei government on all their efforts to get to the bottom' of the bombing and 'make sure that Cristina Fernández de Kirchner receives the justice that she well deserves,' Lamelas said. Fueling the fire further, he suggested Fernández had something to do with the suspicious 2015 death of Alberto Nisman, the special prosecutor appointed to investigate the bombing. 'God knows if she was involved in (his) death,' Lamelas said. Fernández has not been formally accused or charged in connection with Nisman's death. An early investigation stated that Nisman committed suicide, but a later report showed that it was a homicide. The case has not been resolved. Alarm over China In another part of his testimony, Lamelas expressed concern over China's growing influence in Argentina, citing that the governors of Argentina's 23 provinces had the autonomy to negotiate 'with external forces, with the Chinese or others, to come in and do projects in those particular provinces.' 'That may also lend toward corruption,' he added. 'My role is to get out into the countryside and make sure that we weed out corruption.' Argentina's provincial governors castigated Lamelas and called on Milei to reject his nomination. 'Stay in your country and solve your (country's) corruption problems,' shot back Gustavo Melella, governor of Argentina's southernmost Tierra del Fuego province. 'No ambassador has the right to lecture us.' The governor of Argentina's central La Pampa province, Sergio Ziliotto, had a similar response: 'The only ones who can command us are the people of La Pampa.' Despite U.S. efforts to urge the Milei administration — along with other U.S. allies in Latin America — to move away from China, Argentina's trade with China has increased over the past year. China's Embassy in Argentina issued a statement apparently directed at Lamelas, though it did not mention him. 'Argentina should not become a stage for the games of major powers,' it said. ___ Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre in Buenos Aires, Argentina, contributed to this report
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lula visits former Argentine President Cristina Kirchner in house arrest
By Lucila Sigal BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -After participating in Mercosur trade talks in Buenos Aires, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner on Thursday at her apartment in Buenos Aires, where she is serving a six-year sentence for corruption. Kirchner called Lula's visit "a political act of solidarity," in a post on X following the meeting, and said that the Brazilian leader had also been a victim of political persecution. In 2017, Lula faced a corruption conviction for which he served 19 months in prison. Lula, a leftist leader, did not meet privately with Argentine right-wing libertarian President Javier Milei, who has called him a "communist" and "corrupt." During the trade summit and Lula's first visit to Argentina since Milei took office, Brazil took up the rotating presidency of the Mercosur bloc. Kirchner was president of Argentina from 2007 to 2015 and last month began serving a sentence for participating in a fraud scheme that steered public road work projects to a close ally while she was president. The sentence, upheld in June by the country's Supreme Court, also bars Fernandez from holding office. In recent days, supporters of Kirchner have rallied outside of her apartment, hoping to catch a glimpse of the prominent opposition figure when she appears on her balcony. After the Supreme Court upheld Kirchner's sentence, Lula said on social media site X that he called Kirchner to express support and spoke to her "about the importance of staying strong in this difficult moment."
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Thousands march in Buenos Aires as ex-president Kirchner starts house arrest
By Nicolás Misculin BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of Argentines marched in the streets of Buenos Aires on Wednesday, banging drums and chanting in a show of support for ex-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as she started a six-year sentence under house arrest for corruption. Kirchner, a two-term president from 2007-2015, is the country's most prominent politician in recent decades, though her leftist brand of populism sharply divides opinion. She is the nemesis of current libertarian President Javier Milei. Supporters from her Peronist movement took to the streets with flares, giant posters with her image, and banners saying "Always With Cristina", a reflection of how she retains popular backing with her core supporter base. Kirchner, 72, claims the allegations against her are politically driven. "It was what they needed to get rid of her, so she wouldn't be in the (election) running. They knew she could beat them," said Laura Abal, 66, a pedicurist who took part in the march, referring to Kirchner's foiled plans to run as a local lawmaker. Kirchner has some 20% voter support, polls show, though is opposed by many who recall her interventionist policies. She still holds huge sway over the opposition Peronists, Argentina's dominant political bloc in the last half century. Argentina's Supreme Court last week upheld a 2022 conviction against Kirchner related to a fraud scheme involving public projects in the southern Patagonia region. That also included a lifetime ban from holding public political office. Some analysts say the detention could, though boost her image by making her a political martyr, adding she could potentially exercise influence from her Buenos Aires apartment where the judge ordered that she serve out her sentence due to her age. "Can I go out on my balcony or not?" Fernández humorously asked on Wednesday on the social network X, a reference to how she could rouse the crowds in the streets below in potential violation of court orders not to cause disruption. Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni on Wednesday avoided crowing over the sentence, though hailed the fact that "justice" had prevailed. "The arrest of a former president is not pleasant for any democracy, although, of course, it is a source of joy that justice exists and puts some things right," he said.
Reuters
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Thousands march in Buenos Aires as ex-president Kirchner starts house arrest
BUENOS AIRES, June 18 (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Argentines marched in the streets of Buenos Aires on Wednesday, banging drums and chanting in a show of support for ex-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner as she started a six-year sentence under house arrest for corruption. Kirchner, a two-term president from 2007-2015, is the country's most prominent politician in recent decades, though her leftist brand of populism sharply divides opinion. She is the nemesis of current libertarian President Javier Milei. Supporters from her Peronist movement took to the streets with flares, giant posters with her image, and banners saying "Always With Cristina", a reflection of how she retains popular backing with her core supporter base. Kirchner, 72, claims the allegations against her are politically driven. "It was what they needed to get rid of her, so she wouldn't be in the (election) running. They knew she could beat them," said Laura Abal, 66, a pedicurist who took part in the march, referring to Kirchner's foiled plans to run as a local lawmaker. Kirchner has some 20% voter support, polls show, though is opposed by many who recall her interventionist policies. She still holds huge sway over the opposition Peronists, Argentina's dominant political bloc in the last half century. Argentina's Supreme Court last week upheld a 2022 conviction against Kirchner related to a fraud scheme involving public projects in the southern Patagonia region. That also included a lifetime ban from holding public political office. Some analysts say the detention could, though boost her image by making her a political martyr, adding she could potentially exercise influence from her Buenos Aires apartment where the judge ordered that she serve out her sentence due to her age. "Can I go out on my balcony or not?" Fernández humorously asked on Wednesday on the social network X, a reference to how she could rouse the crowds in the streets below in potential violation of court orders not to cause disruption. Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni on Wednesday avoided crowing over the sentence, though hailed the fact that "justice" had prevailed. "The arrest of a former president is not pleasant for any democracy, although, of course, it is a source of joy that justice exists and puts some things right," he said.
Bloomberg
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Kirchner Begins Her House Arrest: ‘Can I Go Out to My Balcony or Not?'
Former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner started her first full day of house arrest wondering what she can actually do at her home in Argentina's capital for the next six years. With throngs of supporters swarming outside her Buenos Aires apartment Wednesday, Kirchner sought clarity from a judge before she opened her French doors.
