The judiciary is investigating Fuerza Patria's new congresswoman for the misappropriation of funds used for electoral advertising
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The Provincias Unidas front filed a complaint with the courts against the 29 de Abril civil association for alleged fraudulent administration of funds that were reportedly used to finance digital advertising in support of Fuerza Patria, the Peronist group that includes Caren Tepp and Óscar "Cachi" Martínez.
Diputados santafesinos acusados de utilizar fondos de una ONG para hacer campaña.
According to the court filing, the NGO —originally created to assist victims of the April 29, 2003 flood in Santa Fe— allegedly allocated $21,855,000 to social media campaigns for Kirchnerist candidates, a use of resources incompatible with the organization's social mission.
Sebastián Chale, Secretary of Government of the Municipality of Rosario, stated directly: "Money that should have gone to families, to children, to the neighborhoods that suffered the 2003 flood, was put into Caren Tepp and Cachi Martínez's campaign."
The complaint, filed by the legal representatives of Provincias Unidas, was expanded to include Tepp and Martínez, who were summoned to provide explanations before the courts regarding the detected financial transactions.
An NGO under suspicion
The case attracted particular attention in Rosario and Santa Fe, where the 29 de Abril NGO had historically been recognized for its social work. If the irregularities are confirmed, it would be a serious case of embezzlement of public funds during an election campaign.
According to court documents, the suspicious payments were made to advertising agencies and social media management firms to promote Fuerza Patria candidates, something prohibited by the organization's bylaws.
The case is now before the provincial courts, which must determine whether there was improper use of resources for partisan purposes.
Reactions and political context
Within the Provincias Unidas circle, the complaint was presented as an act in defense of transparency and accountability. "Social assistance funds can't be turned into tools for political propaganda," sources from the group stated.
The case once again exposes the old practices of Santa Fe Kirchnerism, where parallel structures, foundations, or cooperatives are used to channel public money into election campaigns.
Caren Tepp, relacionada a la ONG que le pagó la publicidad a Fuerza Patria
Tepp, former councilor and leader of the Ciudad Futura group, headed Fuerza Patria's list, aligned with Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, and was recently elected as a national deputy. The leader had tried to present herself as a young alternative within provincial Peronism, but this complaint shows that Kirchnerism never abandons its illegitimate practices and that all its leaders have some shady deal to defend.
Impact on Fuerza Patria and the campaign
Fuerza Patria, which is seeking to reposition itself after the September 7 defeat, now faces a new legal challenge that once again puts Kirchnerism under scrutiny for corruption and lack of transparency.
Meanwhile, Javier Milei's national government insists on consolidating its reform program and promoting a lean and efficient state. The contrast with episodes like this reinforces the perception that a segment of Peronism remains attached to old clientelist structures.
