Argentina's Opposition Corruption Scandal Goes to Court

Edited by Ivan Martínez
2015-09-24 12:43:21

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Buenos Aires, September 24 (teleSUR-RHC)-- The Argentinean opposition will have to face the courts after a criminal complaint was filed on Wednesday against the current mayor of Buenos Aires and presidential candidate, Mauricio Macri, and four top officials from the city government.

According to the complaint – filed by lawyer and businessman Antonio Liurgo – the accused misappropriated public funds in detriment of the city.

Furthermore, Radio Ahijuna also presented a criminal complaint against Buenos Aires' media and communication secretaries. Other radio stations are considering joining the plaintiffs.
 
The complaint comes after seven media outlets rejected official data published by Macri's government on its website, claiming the amount the mayor's office reports it paid for advertising is much higher than the fee they charged.

Some of the media claim they didn't receive any money. They claim a government intermediary was responsible for making the payments, which could amount to over $745,000 dollars.

The national lawmaker Gabriel Fuks, from the Front for Victory party, said he believed Macri used the embezzled money to expand his party's reach across the country. Macri’s right-wing party is the Republican Proposal (PRO).

Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez – who spoke to the nation on Wednesday – criticized Macri's mismanagement of the local government. She revealed that the Juan Garrahan Hospital, specialized in pediatrics, was currently being funded by the national government. 

Doctors and staff members staged a strike on Wednesday demanding Macri to fulfill the budget obligation that his administration had with the institution.

According to workers, over the past 18 months the government of Buenos Aires has cut 450 million pesos (some $47.9 million) from the hospital's budget.

Macri did not comment on the accusation made by Fernandez nor did he refer to the new corruption scandal involving official publicity. 


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