When will Cristina Fernández de Kirchner be arrested and where will she serve her six-year prison sentence?

The Argentine Supreme Court’s ruling against former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner prevents the Peronist leader from running for deputy in the Buenos Aires provincial elections on September 7 and leaves her one step away from jail. On Tuesday, the three judges who make up Argentina’s highest court unanimously dismissed all appeals and upheld the six-year prison sentence and perpetual ban from holding public office handed down by lower courts for finding her guilty of fraudulent administration to the detriment of the state in the awarding of public works concessions in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, in the so-called Vialidad Case. These are the next steps in a historic judicial process that has sent shockwaves through Argentine politics.

When will Kirchner be arrested?

For the execution of the sentence upheld by the Supreme Court, the case returns to the court of origin, in this case the Second Federal Oral Court (TOF2) of the city of Buenos Aires. Its president, Jorge Gorini, was responsible for notifying Kirchner and the other eight convicted defendants that they have five business days, expiring next Wednesday, to appear before the court. At that time, they will be detained and begin serving their sentences.

What happens if you don’t appear in court?

If Kirchner fails to appear before the court within the prescribed period, the court may order her arrest by law enforcement. It may also order this if it deems her a flight risk.

Where will she serve her sentence?

The president of the TOF2 has requested that the Ministry of Security assign a federal forces facility that meets the appropriate conditions for housing the former president and the other convicts. Judge Gorini clarifies that “the specific individual characteristics” of each convict must be addressed and given consideration.

Can she request house arrest?

Yes, although it’s not automatic. Argentine law allows the courts to grant the benefit of house arrest to those aged over 70. Kirchner’s defense team can request it, invoking this requirement, as she turned 72 on February 19. The courts must decide whether to grant it, but it’s assumed they will. If so, the opposition leader is expected to opt for her home in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Constitución instead of the one she has in El Calafate, almost 3,000 kilometers (1,865 miles) south of Buenos Aires.

What’s happening with her candidacy for deputy?

The Peronist leader had announced that she would run for deputy in the legislative elections scheduled for September 7 in the province of Buenos Aires, the largest and most populous in Argentina. However, the perpetual ban from holding public office prevents the Peronist party from registering her on the electoral lists, which must be submitted before July 19. Judge Gorini ordered that the National Electoral Chamber be notified of the ban that now applies to Kirchner.

Can she appeal to international courts?

The Supreme Court is Argentina’s highest court, and Kirchner’s conviction is final, meaning she cannot appeal to any other court in the country. However, the former president claims to be a victim of judicial persecution and wants to take the case to international courts. She has six months to file a complaint with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Her lawyer, Gregorio Dalbón, has also announced that they will file complaints with the International Criminal Court and the UN Human Rights Council.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition