Former Argentina President remains defiant over corruption allegations

Argentina’s former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has refused to testify in court over claims of state fraud when she was in office.

Instead she gave a written statement alleging judicial abuse of power. Afterwards she told thousands of supporters that she was the victim of political persecution.

Under her watch the central bank was accused of having sold US dollars at below-market rates, enabling buyers to make money and costing the government billions.

In an hour-long speech, the 63-year-old said the bank’s actions were legitimate. ‘‘They can call me to testify 20 times and lock me up, I’ll still say what I think,’‘ she said.

Cristina Kirchner makes fiery return with emotional courtroom-step speech https://t.co/ouizxKH5pT pic.twitter.com/KnCWAAu48g

— Telegraph News (@TelegraphNews) April 14, 2016

Dismissing corruption allegations, she pointed the finger at her successor President Mauricio Macri.

One of Macri’s campaign promises was to root out corruption in Argentina, he has vowed to provide investigators access to his finances and also with whatever information is necessary.

Kirchner, who faces accusations of money laundering in another case, claims the accusations against her are an attempt to distract attention from the current government’s austerity measures she describes as calamitous.

Euronews