Argentina

Argentine Court Upholds Gender-Violence Charges Against Former President

FEB 18 2025·Updated APR 16 2025

Story

Above: Argentina's then-outgoing president, Alberto Fernández, casts his vote in the runoff between Javier Milei and Sergio Massa in Buenos Aires on Nov. 19, 2023. Image credit: Dado Galdieri/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Facts

A three-judge panel from Argentina's federal appeals court confirmed gender-based violence charges against former President Alberto Fernández in a 2-1 vote on Tuesday, leaving him one step away from being put on trial in open court.
EFE Noticias
La Derecha Diario
This comes as a federal judge in Argentina indicted Fernández for aggravated serious assault, several counts of aggravated minor assault, and coercive threats against his former partner, Fabiola Yáñez. If convicted, the former president faces up to 18 years in prison.
ap
The Wall Street Journal
In his 184-page ruling issued in February, judge Julián Ercolini said that there was enough evidence that Fernández systematically perpetrated violence against Yáñez from 2016 to August 2024 (escalating after she got pregnant in mid-2021) to proceed with charges.
ap
Buenos Aires Herald
He ordered the former president to pay 10 million pesos (about $8,000 at the unofficial "blue dollar" rate) and not to contact Yáñez or approach within 500 meters of her, but dismissed a pre-trial arrest and lifted a travel ban on Fernández.
Mercopress
Buenos Aires Herald
The charges capped a months-long probe into allegations that the self-proclaimed first feminist leader of Argentina had been abusive toward the former first lady. Evidence included photographs showing her with a black eye and a bruised arm, as well as WhatsApp messages and her deposition.
The Wall Street Journal
Buenos Aires Herald
Now living in Madrid, Yáñez last August further provided a 20-page affidavit, which reportedly described frequent physical and emotional abuse throughout their 14-year relationship, including incidents at the official Olivos residence.
The Wall Street Journal
MSN

Sources Split

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RIGHT

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ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

While in office, Fernández expressed empathy for women who endured gender violence in Argentina. He called on his fellow countrymen to denounce the violent ones. Now it turns out that the self-proclaimed feminist leader was merely a hypocrite whose actions betrayed his speech.

Voz

Narrative B

Just because he's been charged doesn't mean that Fernández has been convicted. As the former president insists that he is the victim of a politically-motivated judicial persecution to tarnish his reputation, one should avoid jumping to conclusions before a verdict.