The United States has barred Argentina’s former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and one of her ministers from entering the country over accusations of corruption.
Fernandez de Kirchner was in power for two terms between 2007 and 2015. She also served as vice president under Milei’s predecessor, Alberto Fernandez.
What did the US say about Fernandez de Kirchner’s ban?
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement on Friday that Fernandez de Kirchner and former Planning Minister Julio Miguel De Vido “abused their positions by orchestrating and financially benefiting from multiple bribery schemes involving public works contracts” leading to “millions of dollars stolen from the Argentine government.”
Rubio said the ex-president and De Vido, along with their immediate family, had been designated as credibly involved in “significant corruption” under US law, making them ineligible for entry into the US.
Fernandez de Kirchner — the current president of Argentina’s Peronist opposition party — is a staunch rival of libertarian President Javier Milei, on of US President Donald Trump’s closest allies on the international stage.
The former president blamed Milei for the decision from the White House. “You left your prints all over this,” Fernandez de Kirchner said in a Facebook post, in reference to the current president.
