Cristina Fernández supporters rally in Buenos Aires demanding freedom

Thousands of supporters of former Argentine President Cristina Fernández gathered in Buenos Aires on Saturday, Argentina's Flag Day, to demand her freedom and protest her political ban. The rally, held in Parque Lezama, featured chants of 'Cristina free, enough of proscription.'

Fernández, who served as president from 2007 to 2015, is currently under house arrest, serving a six-year sentence for corruption charges related to public works concessions during her term and that of her late husband, Néstor Kirchner. The Supreme Court upheld her conviction on June 10, 2025, and she began her sentence at home a week later.

During the rally, Congressman Máximo Kirchner, Fernández's son, was the sole speaker. He asserted that demanding his mother's freedom was not a whim but a call for justice, emphasizing her innocence. He also highlighted that millions of Argentines wish to vote for her in the upcoming 2027 presidential elections but are unable to due to her disqualification.

Kirchner also criticized the lack of unity within the Peronist movement. He accused some leaders of abandoning Fernández after her conviction, questioning her leadership, and even supporting some policies of the current far-right government. The gathering included members of Peronist political groups, unions, social movements, and independent citizens, many from Buenos Aires and its surrounding areas, carrying signs and wearing merchandise bearing Fernández's image.

Supporters like Julio Rojas from Guernica expressed their commitment to the cause, stating, "We are here, with the entire Peronist movement, to ask for Cristina to be free." Cecilia Riegui, a teacher from Merlo, added, "Cristina is our homeland, and we will always defend her, opposing the current president's policies." Another attendee, Carlos Díaz, voiced his disagreement with the judicial process, demanding an impartial trial for the former president.