Latest news with #Kirchnerism
UPI
a day ago
- Health
- UPI
Argentina raises death toll from tainted fentanyl to more than 100
The government of Argentine President Javier Milei blamed blamed a local laboratory, HLB Pharma Group S.A., for the deaths of more than 100 people from contaminated fentanyl. Photo by Juan Ignacio Roncoroni/EPA Aug. 15 (UPI) -- More than 100 people are believed to have died from a batch of medical fentanyl that may have been contaminated, Argentina's government said in a statement from the presidential press office. The government blamed a local laboratory, HLB Pharma Group S.A., for the incident. The tragedy, described as one of the most serious in the country's public health history, began with the distribution of vials contaminated with multidrug-resistant bacteria -- including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Ralstonia pickettii -- used in public and private hospitals across several regions since early 2025. Although the first cases were detected in May, the death toll has continued to rise in recent days, reaching 96 confirmed deaths with at least nine more under investigation. From the presidential palace, President Javier Milei's government said the company responsible, led by businessman Ariel García Furfaro, engaged in "criminal conduct" by allowing the defective product to be distributed. The presidential press office said more than 300,000 vials of the drug were produced, about 45,000 of which were administered before recall protocols were activated. Unlike other critical medications, clinical-use fentanyl was not fully integrated into the national electronic tracking system, making it harder to detect the problem early and identify the health centers that received the contaminated vials. In a public appearance, Milei turned the health emergency into a political issue by accusing the Kirchnerist movement of having "covered up" for the laboratory's owners for years. Kirchnerism is a left-wing populist movement that blends Peronist nationalism with progressive social policies, economic interventionism and an emphasis on human rights "This is a longtime partner of the previous regime. We will not allow impunity," Milei said. He also warned that his government will seek the recusal of the federal judge handling the case if the businessman is not immediately taken into custody. The National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology said it had revoked the laboratory's authorization in February, but acknowledged there were failures in subsequent distribution controls. So far, 24 people linked to the production and distribution of fentanyl have been identified as suspects in the court case. All are barred from leaving the country and have had their assets seized, though no formal charges have been filed. At the same time, the victims' families are demanding justice. Patient organizations and health professionals have called for urgent reforms to the drug tracking system and a full audit of the health system's operations to prevent similar incidents in the future. In a press release, HLB Pharma Group said it is "at the disposal of the courts" and accused political and economic sectors of "opportunism" in carrying out a "media smear campaign" against the company. The company also said that "contamination such as that reported by some media -- involving one or more multidrug-resistant bacteria typically found in a hospital setting in the same batch -- is simply not possible in a laboratory setting."
San Francisco Chronicle
03-07-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Brazil's Lula visits Fernández de Kirchner under house arrest in Argentina
BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited former Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner at her home Thursday, where the former leader is serving her six-year sentence for corruption under house arrest. Fernández had asked the court's permission to receive Lula, a longtime political and ideological ally. Lula was in Buenos Aires for the summit of the regional Mercosur trade alliance and made the short trip to Fernández's home in Argentina's capital after the meeting concluded. Lula was inside with Fernández for just under an hour and they did not appear publicly together. It was not Lula's first show of support for Fernández since Argentina's Supreme Court upheld her sentence last month. He had called her to express his support after her conviction. Fernández had been convicted of directing state contracts to a friend while she was the first lady and president. The sentence also permanently bans her from holding public office. Fernández dominated Argentine politics for two decades and forged the country's main left-wing populist movement known as Kirchnerism, after her and her husband, former President Néstor Kirchner. Lula has also faced imprisonment. While he was held in a police station in Curitiba in 2019, also for corruption, he received then-Argentinian presidential candidate Alberto Fernández, a political ally of Cristina Fernández who is not related to her. Lula's conviction was later overturned.
Hamilton Spectator
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Brazil's Lula visits Fernández de Kirchner under house arrest in Argentina
BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited former Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner at her home Thursday, where the former leader is serving her six-year sentence for corruption under house arrest. Fernández had asked the court's permission to receive Lula, a longtime political and ideological ally. Lula was in Buenos Aires for the summit of the regional Mercosur trade alliance and made the short trip to Fernández's home in Argentina's capital after the meeting concluded. Lula was inside with Fernández for just under an hour and they did not appear publicly together. It was not Lula's first show of support for Fernández since Argentina's Supreme Court upheld her sentence last month . He had called her to express his support after her conviction. Fernández had been convicted of directing state contracts to a friend while she was the first lady and president. The sentence also permanently bans her from holding public office. Fernández dominated Argentine politics for two decades and forged the country's main left-wing populist movement known as Kirchnerism, after her and her husband, former President Néstor Kirchner. Lula has also faced imprisonment. While he was held in a police station in Curitiba in 2019, also for corruption, he received then-Argentinian presidential candidate Alberto Fernández, a political ally of Cristina Fernández who is not related to her. Lula's conviction was later overturned. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Brazil's Lula visits Fernández de Kirchner under house arrest in Argentina
BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited former Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner at her home Thursday, where the former leader is serving her six-year sentence for corruption under house arrest. Fernández had asked the court's permission to receive Lula, a longtime political and ideological ally. Lula was in Buenos Aires for the summit of the regional Mercosur trade alliance and made the short trip to Fernández's home in Argentina's capital after the meeting concluded. Lula was inside with Fernández for just under an hour and they did not appear publicly together. It was not Lula's first show of support for Fernández since Argentina's Supreme Court upheld her sentence last month. He had called her to express his support after her conviction. Fernández had been convicted of directing state contracts to a friend while she was the first lady and president. The sentence also permanently bans her from holding public office. Fernández dominated Argentine politics for two decades and forged the country's main left-wing populist movement known as Kirchnerism, after her and her husband, former President Néstor Kirchner. Lula has also faced imprisonment. While he was held in a police station in Curitiba in 2019, also for corruption, he received then-Argentinian presidential candidate Alberto Fernández, a political ally of Cristina Fernández who is not related to her. Lula's conviction was later overturned.
Al Arabiya
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Brazil's Lula Visits Fernández de Kirchner Under House Arrest in Argentina
Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited former Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner at her home Thursday, where the former leader is serving her six-year sentence for corruption under house arrest. Fernández had asked the courts' permission to receive Lula, a longtime political and ideological ally. Lula was in Buenos Aires for the summit of the regional Mercosur trade alliance and made the short trip to Fernández's home in Argentina's capital after the meeting concluded. Lula was inside with Fernández for just under an hour, and they did not appear publicly together. It was not Lula's first show of support for Fernández since Argentina's Supreme Court upheld her sentence last month. He had called her to express his support after her conviction. Fernández had been convicted of directing state contracts to a friend while she was first lady and president. The sentence also permanently bans her from holding public office. Fernández dominated Argentine politics for two decades and forged the country's main left-wing populist movement known as Kirchnerism after her and her husband, former President Néstor Kirchner. Lula has also faced imprisonment. While he was held in a police station in Curitiba in 2019, also for corruption, he received then-Argentinian presidential candidate Alberto Fernández, a political ally of Cristina Fernández who is not related to her. Lula's conviction was later overturned.
