From 'Olé!' at a Conference to 'Francisca Javiera': Who is Javier Borrego, the Singular Spanish Lawyer Chosen by Cristina Kirchner?

Javier Borrego, a Spanish lawyer representing former Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, has drawn significant attention for his unconventional approach and past stances on social issues. Borrego, who recently joined Kirchner's legal team, appeared at a press conference in Buenos Aires to announce the case would be presented to the UN Human Rights Committee in Geneva. He asserted that Kirchner was convicted due to her gender, citing "structural machismo" as the reason for her sentencing.

His pronouncements, including a dramatic "¡Olé!" at the end of the conference, have sparked widespread commentary. This theatrical style, combined with his Spanish "castizo" expressions, quickly made him a notable figure in Argentine politics. Comedian Ariel Tarico even included an imitation of Borrego on the news channel Todo Noticias.

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¡Olé!

Despite his flamboyant persona, Borrego possesses a distinguished legal background. He previously served as a judge at the European Court of Human Rights and a magistrate on the Third Chamber of the Supreme Court of Spain. He also held a position as an independent director for Financiera El Corte Inglés. Pope Francis appointed him to the Vatican's Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life.

Borrego's career has included unexpected turns, such as serving as civil governor of Orense under the UCD government. His public statements have also courted controversy. In 2025, he publicly presented himself as "Francisca Javiera" during a conference organized by the far-right Vox party to critique Spain's Trans Law. He claimed to perceive himself as a woman for two hours, suggesting he could sue anyone who laughed at him for hate speech. This act was intended to mock the self-determination of gender principle in the legislation, drawing both amusement from attendees and strong reactions from LGBTQ+ organizations and progressive groups in Spain.

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Cristina Kirchner was convicted because she is a woman.