Cristina condemned: history did not absolve her

Cristina Kirchner never defended herself against the accusations against her in the Highways case, for which she was recently sentenced to six years in prison and a permanent ban from holding public office.

The day she sat in the dock at the oral hearing of this case, during the preliminary investigation, her statement avoided providing solid arguments to support her innocence . Furious, she shouted at the judges: " History absolved me, and history will absolve me . And history will surely condemn you."

The outcries were extraordinary: never before had a political leader of her stature dared to insult magistrates to their faces in such a manner. The monologue was lengthy and filled with accusations against the members of the Second Federal Court of Justice, which she failed to back up with evidence . It was a very tense and crucial moment in this plot, which has just culminated with the final conviction for corruption confirmed by the Supreme Court against the former president.

Cristina stood up from that iconic dock, striding steadily forward, when suddenly a voice was heard from another judicial authority carrying out his duty: "Excuse me, is the defendant going to answer questions?" It was the then-not-so-well-known prosecutor Diego Luciani . Kirchner grew even angrier. He retraced his steps, grabbed the microphone, and shouted one last time: "Questions? You're going to have to answer questions."

The evidence against the former president, accumulated in court at every stage, was overwhelming. From the Casa Rosada, Cristina deliberately enriched her business partner, Lázaro Báez, a public works contractor, who in turn enriched the Kirchner family's assets with incredible, rustic-style deals, through real estate transactions and hotel rentals at exorbitant prices. Báez always made a loss to the Kirchners. Although, strictly speaking, he also always made money with irregularly awarded public funds.

It's no longer a question of suspicions, but of accusations. The investigation by prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita and Judge Julián Ercolini reached the same conclusion. So did the Federal Court. And the Federal Criminal Cassation Court.

Now, with its ruling in the Vialidad case, it was the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation itself that directly alluded to these illegal businesses between the Kirchners and the Báez family .

Even the Supreme Court justices made it clear that Kirchner's defense never denied that these businesses existed, but rather simply defended themselves by claiming they were "legal" transactions. No.

When Cristina Kirchner yelled at the judges and prosecutor Luciani, there were only eight days left until she was sworn in as vice president of the nation.

Never again in her life will she receive the benefits that public office granted her for decades. She is barred from holding public office. Forever. For having embezzled public funds. For being corrupt. History has not absolved her.