Peronist leaders face judicial targeting in Argentina: Cristina Fernández is currently disqualified from office and under house arrest, while former President Alberto Fernández faces charges and is appealing his indictment on grounds of insufficient evidence.

Alberto Fernández is being prosecuted in the so-called Seguros Case investigating alleged irregularities in insurance contracting during his administration at the Casa Rosada.

His lawyer Mariana Barbitta filed an appeal with the Federal Court of Buenos Aires challenging the indictment as meritless, pending further investigation and new evidentiary measures. This followed Friday’s indictment by federal judge Sebastián Casanello for alleged «transactions incompatible with public office».

The defence contends the former president was charged for offences about which he was never questioned, and for «novel conduct» without opportunity to mount a defence, reported Noticias Argentinas.

The indictment was based on «factual and legal grounds» for which Fernández was never formally investigated, prompting his defence to seek dismissal for lack of merit.

Among the «novel conduct» cited in the indictment is allegedly creating a private secretary position for María Cantero – wife of broker Héctor Martínez Sosa, both also prosecuted – and establishing «an office that became headquarters for a business group in which he himself had participated».

The defence highlighted the institutional and democratic gravity of prosecuting a former president «based on journalistic investigations» without «serious, thorough, and objective judicial inquiry». The filing described an «unfounded persecution»; the Appeals Court must now rule.

Similar circumstances affected Cristina Fernández, whose Vialidad Case originated from an opposition journalist’s report leading to a 2008 trial where she was fully exonerated due to insufficient evidence.

Under right-wing President Mauricio Macri, economic powers revived the case in December 2017, accelerating proceedings when she recently ran for deputy in Buenos Aires Province.