Federal Appeals Court Reverses Dismissal of Money-Laundering Case Against Argentine Vice President Cristina Fernández

Buenos Aires, Argentina: A Surprising Turn of Events

In a surprising turn of events, a federal appeals court ruled to reopen a money-laundering case against Vice President Cristina Fernández. The case, known as “Ruta del dinero K,” was dismissed in June 2023, but the appeals court reinstated the investigation due to its connections to other corruption allegations against Fernández.

Background

Vice President Cristina Fernández, a former president (2007-2015), and her late husband, former President Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007), have been implicated in several high-profile corruption cases. In 2021, businessman Lázaro Báez, a close associate of Fernández, was convicted for laundering $60 million. Fernández’s connection to Báez led to the case against her, but it was dismissed in June 2023.

The Decision

A civic watchdog, Republican Bases, which is closely linked to former President Mauricio Macri (2015-2019), had requested Fernández’s reinstatement in the “Ruta del dinero K” case but was denied standing. In a 2-1 decision, Judges Mariano Llorens and Pablo Bertuzzi ruled in favor of reopening the investigation, citing its correlation to other ongoing corruption cases involving Fernández.

• The “Vialidad” case, in which Fernández was sentenced to six years in prison (an appeal is pending)
• The “Hotesur-Los Sauces” case, which was reopened by Argentina’s highest criminal court on September 18, 2023
• The ongoing “Cuadernos” case

Reactions

Fernández and her lawyer, Gregorio Dalbon, have denounced the decision as a political persecution. Dalbon suggested that the case may eventually implicate Macri and accused those discussing the case without shame of politically ostracizing Fernández.

Critics’ Perspective

Fernández’s critics argue that her role in the corruption cases warrants a thorough investigation.

Legal Implications

The ruling was labeled as a “legal disgrace” by Fernández’s lawyer, but Fernández’s critics maintain that her involvement in several corruption cases justifies the reinstatement of the investigation.