Just a few months after he left office Alberto Fernandezformer President of Argentina, faces his first post-government indictment after being accused last Thursday, February 29, of allegedly embezzling funds for the irregular purchase of insurance for employees of the Argentine government National Social Security Agency (Anses). The measure presented by the prosecutor Ramirez Gonzalez, points out that the former president also committed the alleged crime of breaching the duties of a public official.
In this way, Prosecutor González requested a series of procedures to allow the Chief of Staff and the Legal and Technical Secretariat to provide clarifications on Decree 82321, which established that public entities are obliged to enter into contracts with Nación Seguros SA. Although this contact could have taken place directly, the government chose to do so through Héctor Martínez Sosa, insurance broker and friend of Alberto Fernández.
The public prosecutor's office is calling for a review of the contracts concluded in the National Social Security Agency (Anses). Photo: Diario Rio Negro
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Currently together with Fernández, the former boss of Nacion Seguros SA Alberto Pagliano and Martinez SozaHusband of former Presidential Secretary.
According to an investigation by the newspaper El Clarín, purchasing insurance for Anses workers cost 20 billion pesos a year plus 300 million in monthly commissions. Although the contract was with the public company Nación Seguros SA, the media suggests that the company actually subcontracted to an intermediary who received a commission of 17%, three times the market.
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What did Alberto Fernández say about the accusation made against him?
After the charges were filed against Alberto Fernandez, The former president indicated that he supports the investigations underway against him, as he assures that “he did not steal anything.” However, he regretted that the situation affected “many good people.”
“When it is investigated, they will realize what a lie it all is. I don't want anyone to think I'm hiding from something. I didn't take a dime from anything and I didn't do business with anyone. I didn't take a single eraser from the state. I just had the great honor of being president of the Argentines,” he said during an interview with Radio la Red.
As we remember, Alberto Fernández was President of Argentina between 2019 and 2023. His administration was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the renegotiation of a debt acquired by the previous government, the largest in history as the International Monetary Fund. Granted: 57,000 million dollars, of which Argentina received 44,000 million.