The former Argentine president and her immediate family will be banned from entering the United States. The sanction also affects former minister Julio de Vido.
The United States government announced this Friday sanctions against former Argentine President Cristina Fernández (2007-2015) and former Federal Planning Minister Julio de Vido for their "participation in significant acts of corruption during their public terms," and has banned them from entering the country, said US Foreign Minister Marco Rubio.
In a statement, the Secretary of State accuses Fernández, the arch-rival of Argentine President Javier Milei, and former Planning Minister Julio Miguel De Vido of "participation in significant corruption during their time in public office." As a result, they and their immediate family members will be barred from entering the United States, he stated.
Both "abused their positions by orchestrating and financially benefiting from multiple bribery schemes related to public works contracts, resulting in millions of dollars stolen from the Argentine government," Rubio argues, adding that Fernández and De Vido undermined "the confidence of the Argentine people and investors in the future" of the South American country.
Fight against "global corruption"
The US Foreign Minister recalled that "multiple courts" have convicted both men of corruption. "The United States will continue to promote accountability for those who abuse public power for personal gain. These sanctions reaffirm our commitment to combating global corruption, including at the highest levels of government," Rubio concluded.
In November of last year, the Argentine Federal Court of Criminal Cassation upheld Fernández's six-year prison sentence and "perpetual disqualification from holding public office" in a case known as "Vialidad," which investigated irregularities in the awarding of 51 road project contracts to firms owned by businessman Lázaro Báez during his administration and that of Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007).
The original sentence against the former president, handed down in December 2022, marked the first criminal conviction against her and generated a strong political impact, although the Peronist leader has not been detained because the ruling is not final.
