Lula visits Kirchner: Political solidarity in the shadow of corruption

Lula visits Kirchner: Political solidarity in the shadow of corruption

Buenos Aires, Argentinien - On Thursday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had an important but also emotional visit to Argentina. He stopped with the former Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who is in her place of residence under house arrest, while she is sitting a six -year prison sentence for corruption. Fernández, at the age of 72, had asked the court for permission to receive Lula, which means a special gesture of political solidarity for them.

The visit took place during Lula's presence in Buenos Aires for the summit of the regional trade alliance Mercosur. The president took less than an hour to speak to his former colleague, although both did not appear publicly together. Fernández later informed the social network X (formerly Twitter) that the visit was more than a personal encounter; He was a sign of political cohesion in difficult times. The two politicians were then seen together in photos that Fernández published to capture their hug.

fight against corruption

The visit is particularly important against the background of Fernández 'legal problems. She was condemned because she had awarded government orders to a friend as a president and first lady during her time. This has not only painfully affected her political career, but has also resulted in a permanent ban on public office. Lula had already expressed his support for her after confirming her conviction by the Supreme Court of Argentina. Fernández himself made a comparison to Lula's earlier detention for corruption and described him as the victim of a so -called "legal warfare". While he was initially convicted, his fate has turned; His conviction was lifted and he won the people back to his side.

In an inspiring message that he left on X, Lula Fernández encouraged her "struggle for justice" to continue. The context of their political stories is undisputed, because both were not only leaders from their countries, but also part of a more and more critical handling of corruption in Latin America. More and more citizens in Brazil and Argentina are vigilant towards corrupt practices, which is a significant development, as is the Deutschlandfunk

a look into the past

Fernández shaped Argentine politics over two decades and is seen as the central figure of Kirchneristic populism. Over the years, the Argentinians have seen their political leaders involved in numerous scandals, which further increased the climate of distrust of the government. At the same time, the judiciary has become more active and signs of changes in dealing with corruption have been found. The case of Cristina Fernández is not the only one; Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and other leading politicians in the region were involved in similar scandals, which shows how far the problem is.

What remains is the questions about justice and political responsibility in a region that is increasingly opposing corruption. Lula's visit could not only remain a personal gesture, but also symbolize a new departure in the political culture of Argentina and Brazil. It remains exciting how the coming months develop, especially with a view to the upcoming elections in Brazil, which could be politically charged.

More on the backgrounds and the developments related to the two politicians can be found in the articles of l’Actualité and . .