Argentina is upside down: Kirchner under house arrest – protests are approaching!

Argentina is upside down: Kirchner under house arrest – protests are approaching!

There is a lot of rumblings in Buenos Aires. The Partido Justicialista, the center-left party led by Cristina Kirchner, has called for a mobilization under the motto “Argentina con Cristina”. The aim is to advocate for freedom and support for the former president, who has been under house arrest in her apartment in the Constitución district since Tuesday. L'Express reports that influential people in the party, including Senator Eduardo de Pedro and Teresa Garcia, secretary of the party executive committee, have announced a massive mobilization.

After the Supreme Court confirmed on June 10, 2025 a six-year prison sentence related to corruption during her presidency (2007-2015), the judiciary has decided that Kirchner can serve her sentence in the form of house arrest. Her lawyer, Gregorio Dalbon, explains that the electronic monitoring that is part of these requirements will not be activated immediately and that an assessment by an interdisciplinary team is required. This indicates a monitoring process that is not entirely clear. RFI adds that Kirchner also requested this decision for security reasons after she received a death threat in 2022.

Variable support

Kirchner's supporters are numerous and have been mobilizing in front of her residence around the clock since her conviction to show their solidarity. They accuse the judiciary of acting politically motivated and unfairly. They also have a deep gratitude among each other for Kirchner's contributions to education and public health. The opposition under ultra-liberal President Javier Milei is seen by supporters as a threat to social services. daily news reports that the mobilizations are a response to the condemnation, but a government spokesman emphasizes that they are not intended to lead to a climate of political violence.

Despite her conviction, Kirchner has no plans to disappear from the political spotlight. On the contrary, she is sending a strong signal with her recently announced candidacy for a parliamentary mandate in the province of Buenos Aires. But her political opponents see these ambitions as another expression of their audacity in an already polarized political climate.

Strongly polarized

Kirchner's conviction is seen by many as a kind of political persecution. Her decades-long influence on Argentine politics as first lady, president and currently vice president has created a deep divide between supporters and opponents. While some celebrate Kirchner as a hero of the masses, others see her as the embodiment of corruption and mismanagement that are said to have damaged the country.

At a time when society is suffering under the pressure of political and economic crises, Argentinians are more divided than ever. The coming days could be crucial in determining whether the mobilizations strengthen Kirchner's support or further strain the already tense political landscape.