The United States banned former Argentine president Cristina Kirchner and one of her ministers from entering the US on Friday, accusing them of corruption.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Kirchner and former planning minister Julio Miguel De Vido of receiving millions of dollars in kickbacks from public works contracts.
Kirchner was president of Argentina between 2007 and 2016 and has since been sentenced in her home country to six years in prison for corruption and barred from public office, a ruling she has appealed.
In a statement, Rubio said “CFK”, De Vido and their close relatives had been designated under US law as credibly involved in “significant corruption.”
“This action renders CFK, De Vido, and their immediate family members generally ineligible for entry into the United States,” he said.
Since leaving the presidency and while awaiting the result of her appeal, Kirchner has continued to pursue political activities and seek elected office under the banner of Argentina’s Peronist opposition.
This has made her a high-profile opponent of Argentina’s current leader, President Javier Milei, a right-wing populist and an ally of US President Donald Trump.
AFP