The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation confirmed today the conviction against Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in the landmark Vialidad case, closing one of the largest corruption cases in Argentine history. With this ruling, her sentence of six years in prison and permanent disqualification from holding public office is now final.
What is the Vialidad case
The case, initiated in 2016 by a complaint from legislators, investigated the systematic rigging of public roadwork contracts during the governments of Néstor and Cristina Kirchner (2003–2015) in favor of businessman Lázaro Báez, who was closely linked to the presidential family.
Between 2003 and 2015, Austral Construcciones, Báez's flagship company, received 51 contracts for more than 46 billion pesos (over 101.4 million pounds) to build roads and highways in the province of Santa Cruz, the Kirchner couple's home province.
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, expresidente de argentina.
The judicial investigation determined that the bidding processes were set up so that Báez would always win, many projects were not completed, were abandoned or overcharged, and a structural corruption scheme was established in the management of public funds.
The conviction
In December 2022, Federal Oral Court No. 2 convicted Cristina Kirchner of fraudulent administration to the detriment of the State. Although she was originally also charged with illicit association, that charge was dismissed by the oral court.
Today, the Supreme Court, with the votes of Rosatti, Rosenkrantz, and Lorenzetti, rejected the appeal filed by her defense and confirmed the sentence, which means that the conviction is now final and enables its enforcement.
Horacio Rosatti, Carlos Rosenkrantz y Ricardo Lorenzetti.
With this decision, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is legally disqualified from holding any public office, and there is now the possibility that her arrest or house arrest may be ordered, depending on her procedural and health situation.
The ruling also brings an end to a long judicial battle that lasted several years, and reinforces other investigations in which the former president still faces charges of illicit enrichment, money laundering, and aggravated cover-up.
Cristina's conviction in the Vialidad case not only represents an unprecedented judicial event, but also redefines the Argentine political landscape ahead of the upcoming elections. For the first time in democratic history, a former president has been convicted with a final sentence for corruption while in office.
