Political forum made up of current and former Latin American and Spanish leaders says they stand ‘in solidarity’ with Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner
Bala Chambers |09.12.2022
An illuminated drum shows a poster in support of Cristina Fernandez in Buenos Aires, Argentina
BUENOS AIRES
The Puebla Group, a political forum made up of more than 60 current and former Latin American and Spanish leaders, has strongly condemned the sentencing by a court this week of Argentina's vice president to six years in prison and ban on her from holding public office after finding her guilty of fraud.
"The Puebla Group stands in solidarity with the Vice President of the Republic of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, in the face of the shameful political attack, disguised as a court ruling, handed down against her," said the group in a statement.
The group described the proceedings against Fernandez de Kirchner as a "new chapter of the legal war (lawfare) that has been taking place in the region against progressive leaders."
It cited examples of regional leaders who have been involved in what it said were “lawfare cases,” where legal systems and institutions denigrate an opponent or impact their legal rights, naming Brazil's President-elect Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and former presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia and Rafael Correa of Ecuador as examples.
The statement was signed by more than 20 current and former leaders, including Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez, former Colombian President Ernesto Samper and former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa.
The signatories argued that Fernandez de Kirchner's rights to due process, her reputation and possibility of competing in free elections have been impacted.
It said "legal wars destroy democratic spaces," suggesting that they are used for "political ends" by powerful opponents, damaging the accused's reputation and undermining freedom, social justice and sovereignty in the region.
The group has called on international human rights organizations to monitor developments related to the case and condemned the "shameful use of justice and the media to remove representative and combative leaderships such as Cristina's.”
The group will meet Monday in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, to support the vice president and to denounce the case against her.
Fernandez de Kirchner was found guilty by a three-judge panel Tuesday of committing a $1 billion fraud over the awarding of public works contracts in the southern province of Santa Cruz during her tenure as president.
Judge Jorge Gorini delivered the verdict via videoconference in the presence of two other judges, Rodrigo Gimenez Uriburu and Andres Basso.
The judges will have 40 business days to make their full arguments known to the public, according to local news agency Noticias Argentinas
BUENOS AIRES
The Puebla Group, a political forum made up of more than 60 current and former Latin American and Spanish leaders, has strongly condemned the sentencing by a court this week of Argentina's vice president to six years in prison and ban on her from holding public office after finding her guilty of fraud.
"The Puebla Group stands in solidarity with the Vice President of the Republic of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, in the face of the shameful political attack, disguised as a court ruling, handed down against her," said the group in a statement.
The group described the proceedings against Fernandez de Kirchner as a "new chapter of the legal war (lawfare) that has been taking place in the region against progressive leaders."
It cited examples of regional leaders who have been involved in what it said were “lawfare cases,” where legal systems and institutions denigrate an opponent or impact their legal rights, naming Brazil's President-elect Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and former presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia and Rafael Correa of Ecuador as examples.
The statement was signed by more than 20 current and former leaders, including Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez, former Colombian President Ernesto Samper and former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa.
The signatories argued that Fernandez de Kirchner's rights to due process, her reputation and possibility of competing in free elections have been impacted.
It said "legal wars destroy democratic spaces," suggesting that they are used for "political ends" by powerful opponents, damaging the accused's reputation and undermining freedom, social justice and sovereignty in the region.
The group has called on international human rights organizations to monitor developments related to the case and condemned the "shameful use of justice and the media to remove representative and combative leaderships such as Cristina's.”
The group will meet Monday in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, to support the vice president and to denounce the case against her.
Fernandez de Kirchner was found guilty by a three-judge panel Tuesday of committing a $1 billion fraud over the awarding of public works contracts in the southern province of Santa Cruz during her tenure as president.
Judge Jorge Gorini delivered the verdict via videoconference in the presence of two other judges, Rodrigo Gimenez Uriburu and Andres Basso.
The judges will have 40 business days to make their full arguments known to the public, according to local news agency Noticias Argentinas
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