Argentina's Federal Oral Tribunal No. 7 rejected former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's request for early dismissal in the 'Cuadernos de las coimas' case, confirming the oral trial will start on November 6. Her defense claimed it was covered by her acquittal on illicit association in the Vialidad case, but the judges ruled the facts and individuals involved are different.
On October 23, 2025, Federal Oral Tribunal No. 7, composed of judges Enrique Méndez Signori, Germán Castelli, and Fernando Canero, dismissed the defense's argument for Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. The former president, currently serving a 6-year house arrest sentence and perpetual disqualification from public office for fraudulent administration in the Vialidad case, sought early dismissal claiming 'res judicata' based on her acquittal for illicit association in that file.
The judges determined that the facts charged in the 'Cuadernos de las coimas' case are not covered by the prior ruling, as they involve different elements, including dozens of defendants and hundreds of witnesses. This probe focuses on an alleged illegal system of bribe collection during the Kirchnerist government, where businessmen reportedly paid kickbacks in exchange for state contracts and undue benefits.
The oral trial is set to begin on November 6, 2025, allowing the bribery charges against Kirchner to proceed. This decision marks a setback for the ex-leader, who faces multiple legal proceedings. Judicial sources note the tribunal will uphold the firm accusation, aiming to clarify the irregularities outlined in the infamous notebooks detailing supposed illicit payments.