Argentina's former president greeted by thousands in capital before court date
Argentina's former president greeted by thousands in capital before court date
Cristina Fernández de Kirchner appeared in public for first time since leaving office before a Wednesday court appearance over corruption allegations
Uki Goñi in Buenos Aires
Tuesday 12 April 2016 13.17 EDT
She was coming to Buenos Aires to appear in court as a suspect in a corruption investigation. But she turned it into a party.
Thousands of joyous supporters gathered outside the Argentinian capital’s Aeroparque Jorge Newbery airport on Monday evening, to greet Argentina’s former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner as she flew coach on a regular flight from the city of El Calafate in her political heartland of Patagonia.
Fernández did not let her faithful down. Dressed in white, her hair immaculately coiffed, she ignored the sedan waiting for her to dive past bodyguards and greet her supporters, pose for selfies – and bask in the homecoming glory.
Her arrival in Buenos Aires marked the former president’s first public appearance since leaving office four months ago. The occasion – a court appearance to answer questions over for an investigation of alleged corruption during her eight years in office – was probably not the kind of comeback she would have chosen.
But if she was worried, Fernández didn’t let on. “Of course I’m calm, why shouldn’t I be?” she told reporters during the flight to Buenos Aires in the company of her toy poodle, Lola.
More:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/12/argentina-cristina-fernandez-de-kirchner-public-appearance-corruption
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Argentina: Fraud Claims Against Cristina Fernandez Are Bogus, Says Ex-Minister
Argentina
April 12, 2016
Former Argentine President Cristina Fernandez waves to supporters after arriving at Buenos Aires' metropolitan airport, April 11, 2016/Photo: Reuters
Argentina’s former economy minister and President Mauricio Macri’s campaign rival, Daniel Scioli, stood up to defend former President Cristina Fernandez on Tuesday against what her supporters say are baseless accusations of fraud — while Argentine social movements gear up for mass marches to support the former leader.
Fernandez is facing a probe for alleged public administration fraud linked to the Central Bank’s sale of U.S. dollar futures contracts at below-market rates during her presidency.
Fernandez’s former economy minister, Axel Kicillof, also a current lawmaker, has firmly rejected the claims.
“The accusation is so absurd that I don’t know where to begin the explanation,” Kicillof said in letter delivered to Judge Claudio Bonadio, who will preside over the case despite allegations he is biased against the defendants. “Every time the Central Bank intervenes it is done for regulatory purposes.”
Kicillof delivered the message to the court alongside other members of Fernandez’s Front for Victory coalition and prominent social movement figures, including Grandmothers of the Plaza of Mayo leader Hebe de Bonafini.
More:
http://www.caribflame.com/2016/04/argentina-fraud-claims-against-cristina-fernandez-are-bogus-says-ex-minister/
