A snap poll by the Zuban Córdoba consultancy firm reveals a stark divide in public opinion over the Supreme Court's confirmation of former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s corruption conviction.
The survey, conducted on June 10 and 11 with 1,200 respondents, shows that 53 percent believe the ex-president is guilty of corruption and should go to prison. Yet, 46.5 percent of respondents also said they distrust the judiciary, implying that many believe it acted dishonestly in the case.
This paradox reflects a broader crisis of legitimacy in Argentina, where the line between justice and politics remains blurred. As Fernández de Kirchner prepares to begin serving her six-year jail term (likely under house arrest) and faces a lifetime ban from politics, she remains at the epicentre of national debate.
Age demographics further highlight the polarisation over the veteran Peronist: 70.9 percent of respondents aged 16 to 30 consider her guilty, while that figure dips to 45.5 percent among those aged 31 to 45.
Confidence in judicial fairness is low, with 56.6 percent saying Argentines are not equal before the law and 75 percent rejecting the appointment of Supreme Court judges by presidential decree (a move President Javier Milei attempted to repeat this year).
Adding to the institutional crisis, 51.7% percent question the timing of the ruling deciding Fernández de Kirchner’s fate, given it arrived just a month before candidate lists close for Buenos Aires Province legislative elections, in which she planned to run.
The findings lay bare a deep emotional and political rift: Argentines want justice, but don’t trust those delivering it. Fernández de Kirchner continues to symbolise the nation’s enduring divide and stark political polarisation.
– TIMES/PERFIL
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