Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, the former president of Argentina and a highly influential yet divisive political figure, has been sentenced to prison after the Supreme Court upheld her corruption conviction. The court's ruling solidifies a six-year sentence from a lower court that found her guilty of defrauding the state during her presidency from 2007 to 2015. In addition to her prison sentence, the court barred Kirchner, 72, from holding any public office for life.
The decision follows Kirchner's recent intentions to mount a political comeback, stirring up significant tensions within the nation. Supporters of Kirchner organized protests, blocking major highways in Buenos Aires, signaling their dissatisfaction with the ruling, as she has often been at odds with the current right-wing president, Javier Milei. Major labor unions have even threatened nationwide strikes in response to the ruling.
While the conviction casts a pall over Kirchner's political ambitions, legal analysts suggest she may not serve a lengthy term behind bars due to Argentine laws that allow house arrest for individuals over 70. Legal experts indicate that she might spend a few days in detention at a police facility before potentially facing the prospect of home confinement, pending a judge's approval.
