End of impunity: Cristina Kirchner could go to jail next Tuesday

Last Friday, the Federal Chamber of Criminal Cassation rejected former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's last attempt to evade her sentence.

The sentence of six years in prison and permanent disqualification from holding public office for fraudulent administration to the detriment of the State could become an irreversible reality.

This rejection puts the former president in a critical situation, with just five business days to file her last appeal before the Supreme Court, a "lifeline" that, as President Javier Milei pointed out, seems to be her last chance to avoid what many consider her inevitable fate: prison.

The speed with which judicial deadlines have been handled, combined with citizens' questioning of the slow but steady progress of justice, has ignited the spirits of those demanding an exemplary sanction for the corruption that has plagued the country for years.

The case that brings Cristina Kirchner to this situation centers on a series of corrupt acts that, according to the courts, caused economic damage to the State of $85 billion.

In particular, the former president and her political and business associates, such as Lázaro Báez, were allegedly part of an organization aimed at diverting public resources through fraud in road works in Santa Cruz.

The funds allocated for road works were entirely channeled to companies linked to Báez, who benefited from a series of irregularities without the authorities of the time intervening effectively.

It is important to note that, despite the fact that the Federal Oral Court 2 had already sentenced Cristina Kirchner in December 2022, and the subsequent confirmation by Cassation, the decision of the latter has been decisive: there was no room for the suspension of the sentence.

The extraordinary appeal filed by the former president was deemed "inadmissible", meaning that the path to the Supreme Court, if pursued, will be a last move, more symbolic than effective, to avoid facing the consequences of her fraudulent acts.

The background of this case is not only legal but also political. In her latest moves, Cristina Kirchner has sought to minimize the effects of a sentence that could seriously compromise her future ambitions.

It is no secret that, at 72 years old, the former president might seek a political lifeline by running as a candidate in the upcoming elections, seeking parliamentary immunity. However, the "Clean Record" project, which could be approved in the Senate, jeopardizes this strategy.

Not only is Argentine justice advancing, but the international community is also taking action. The United States Department of State has bannedentry of Cristina Kirchner into its territory, accusing her of being part of an international corruption network linked to bribes in public works.

This sanction, although expected, is a reminder of the magnitude of the crimes committed by the former president and her closest circle.

This development in the judicial field is not only a victory for Argentine justice but also a alert for those who, like Cristina Kirchner, thought that impunity was an acquired right.