Thousands of protesters marched on Argentina's Congress last night to demand the Senate strip Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of her parliamentary immunity and authorise a raid on her home and offices. They also called for a law allowing the State to seize assets linked to illegal activity like corruption.
Federal Judge Claudio Bonadio previously requested the Senate agree to both measures in the so-called "notebook" scandal, in which Fernández de Kirchner is being investigated for alleged graft.
But CFK had a trick up her sleeve, announcing one hour before the march on Tuesday that she had "no problem" in allowing the raid, provided the courts comply with certain conditions.
The Senate will vote again on the issue at 2pm today, after last Wednesday's vote failed to reach quorum.
Fernández de Kirchner does not "want television cameras or photographers" in her home during the raid, she said in a statement. She also called for her lawyer and another senator to be present during the raids.
"This decision does not imply that I am validating the irrational measures of Bonadio in his persecutory crusade, rather the main objective is to end for once and for all the show being put on about these unjustified raids", she added.
The former president's Senate colleague Maurice Class described the statement as "a manifestation of political, not judicial, content" and said the conditions CFK has set out will not "form part of the decision" of the Senate.
If judge Bonadio "does any of the things set out by Cristina in the letter, then Cristina wins and the judge loses", he told La Red radio.
At committee level by Wednesday morning, Senators had failed to agree to a way to address the issue.
-TIMES/PERFIL
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