“I’m sorry about what happened. This will not happen again, ”the head of state said when the photo was published after he denied the existence of public gatherings in the official residence, which is a flagrant violation of the decree prohibiting them, as well as night movement, when it was. the use of masks and social distancing are mandatory.
“Fabiola [Yanez, primeira-dama] he called a meeting with his friends, which he was not supposed to attend. I definitely understand that I shouldn’t have done this, ”said Alberto Fernandez, who attended the party.
A photo taken on July 14, 2020, the birthday of First Lady Fabiola Yanés, shows a party without protective measures.
But the release of the list of visitors to the presidential residence at the height of Argentina’s imprisonment also revealed the presence of guests at a party on Alberto Fernandez’s birthday on April 2, 2020.
At the time, the government announced that “the first lady’s birthday, as it is in a total pandemic, will be zoomed in.” [aplicação vídeo] and with masks. “
There are records of dozens of visits by hairdressers to the first lady, while in the country, hairdressers were forced to close their doors for seven months. The president’s dog has undergone dozens of training sessions while schools across the country have been closed. When walking was prohibited, dozens of guests came to the presidential residence for meetings that could be held via video conferencing.
The recognition of a fully quarantined party exposes Alberto Fernandez to the legal consequences provided for in the decrees he himself announced, after participating in its writing as president and as a criminal defense lawyer.
Articles 205 and 239 of the Criminal Code, which Alberto Fernández refers to in each new renewal announcement, impose penalties of six months to two years in prison for those who violate measures to prevent the emergence or spread of the epidemic, and even for a year. in prison for disobeying the authorities.
“While the Argentines were in mandatory isolation and prosecuted in criminal cases, the president participated in parties, violating the decrees that he himself had defined. This is a criminal case, but also a moral one. How can a government exist without moral authority? Asked Patricia Bullrich, one of the opposition leaders.
“We propose an institutional process for the political conviction of President Alberto Fernandez for his poor performance in the fight against the pandemic and for violating the measures taken by the competent authorities to prevent the spread of the epidemic,” – the text of the request. reads. It also includes other possible political crimes, such as so-called “vaccine diplomacy,” which resisted the procurement of vaccines from US laboratories, and “VIP vaccination,” which promoted the immunization of politicians and friends of authority without prioritization. groups of drugs, risk and health professionals.
The chances of impeachment are slim as the opposition lacks the required two-thirds majority in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Opponents add only 137 votes out of 172 needed in the Chamber of Deputies and 31 out of 48 votes needed in the Senate.
Prime Minister Santiago Cafiero called the underground party in the official residence a “mistake” and chose to accuse the opposition of “politically exploiting” the situation during his legislative campaign in November.
“To the idiots, I want to tell them that the Argentina of the smart who overstep the fools is over. We are talking about people’s health, and I will not let them do what they want. Anyone who does not comply with the quarantine will be held accountable, ”said President Alberto Fernandez a few days before his wife’s secret party.
In 2020, Argentina had the longest and strictest quarantine in the world – 233 days, which, however, did not prevent the infection of more than five million people and the death of 108,815 people.
