Cristina Fernández Granted House Arrest Amid Controversial Court Ruling
The Argentine justice system has granted house arrest to former president Cristina Fernández, who served from 2007 to 2015, after she was sentenced to six years in prison and a permanent disqualification from holding public office. The ruling stems from irregularities in public works contracts awarded during her time in office between 2003 and 2015. Currently, Fernández is under house arrest at her residence in Buenos Aires, serving her sentence under strict conditions.
The Federal Oral Court 2 has mandated that she must remain within her designated home and avoid activities that could disrupt the tranquility of her neighborhood or disturb public order. This decision was notably communicated electronically by the judge with the intention of preventing Fernández from leading a pro-Kirchnerism march to Comodoro Py, where she was due to appear on Wednesday.
With the ruling, Fernández has 48 hours to provide a list of her family members, security personnel, medical professionals who treat her, and her legal representatives who will be permitted access to her home without requiring judicial approval. The compliance with these stipulations will be monitored by the Directorate for Control and Assistance of Criminal Execution, which is tasked with submitting a report every three months to assess adherence to the imposed conditions.
An electronic monitoring device is also to be placed on Fernández, although her lawyers had requested against it, arguing that she poses no flight risk and to avoid any perceived humiliation.
Earlier in the day, prosecutors Diego Luciani and Sergio Mola opposed the house arrest ruling, advocating instead for a harsher twelve-year sentence. They contended that house arrest is an exceptional measure and pointed out that Fernández does not exhibit any health issues that would necessitate such a benefit.
Fernández's defense has leaned on her age—72 years—and the state's responsibility to ensure the safety of former leaders. They also noted that she has previously been the target of an assassination attempt.
In 2022, a court found Fernández guilty of fraudulent administration to the detriment of the state in connection with irregularities related to road works in Santa Cruz during her administration and that of her late husband, Néstor Kirchner, who served as president from 2003 to 2007. The Argentine Supreme Court reaffirmed this ruling on June 10.
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