After his arrival in Buenos Aires, Brazilian dictator Lula da Silva requested to visit the recently convicted Cristina Kirchner
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The Brazilian dictator, Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva, arrived this Wednesday in Buenos Aires to participate in the Mercosur Summit and, as part of his official agenda, requested a personal visit to former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who is currently under house arrest due to a final conviction in the "Vialidad" case, which found her guilty of fraudulent administration to the detriment of the State.
The visit was confirmed by the Brazilian Embassy and authorized by Federal Oral Court No. 2—composed of judges Rodrigo Giménez Uriburu, Andrés Basso, and Jorge Gorini—who ruled that "there are no legal impediments preventing the requested visit from taking place". Judge Gorini also reminded the former president that she must "refrain from engaging in behaviors that disturb the neighborhood", in reference to the strict terms of her confinement.
El dictador, Lula Da Silva y la condenada, Cristina Kirchner.
The meeting between Lula and the convicted former Argentine president will take place this Thursday, July 3 at Fernández de Kirchner's Buenos Aires residence, in the Constitución neighborhood. The former president's inner circle assured that the meeting will be of a "strictly private and humanitarian nature" and will not include the presence of media outlets. Lula da Silva, as arranged, will arrive accompanied only by accredited personnel.
Cristina Kirchner is currently serving a six-year prison sentence and a lifetime disqualification from holding public office, handed down by Federal Oral Court No. 2, in a historic ruling that found her responsible for directing public works in favor of Lázaro Báez during her presidential terms.
Lula Da Silva, Cristina y Néstor Kirchner.
Meanwhile, during his visit, Lula da Silva will assume the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur until the end of 2025, in a regional meeting that began this Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at the Palacio San Martín. The agenda included meetings between Economy ministers and presidents of Central Banks of the member countries, and will conclude with a joint declaration signed by the heads of state.
This is not the first time the dictatorLula has publicly expressed solidarity with Fernández de Kirchner. In a recent interview in his country, he revealed that he had a phone conversation with the former president: "The other day I called Cristina Kirchner, who was convicted. I called her to express my solidarity, and she even cried. I said: 'Cristina, I'm calling you because I want you to know that my friendship with you is not because you and I were presidents. My friendship with you is because I'm a person and you're a person'".
Los dictadores, Nicolas Maduro y Lula Da Silva.
The former president's defense was responsible for submitting the formal request to authorize the visit before the court. The judges granted permission on the grounds that it is a "private meeting" and of institutional relevance due to Lula's position. However, the political background is undeniable: it is an act of explicit support from the Brazilian leader toward a central figure of Kirchnerism who faces multiple judicial cases for corruption.
The scene is particularly scandalous considering that both figures have been convicted of criminal acts during their time in power, and yet they are still treated by certain sectors with the prestige of statesmen. In Lula's case, his return to power in Brazil was preceded by a controversial annulment of previous convictions, while Cristina Kirchner accumulates multiple indictments and convictions in cases ranging from the awarding of public works contracts to covering up the AMIA bombing.
