Argentine Senator Edgardo Kueider, a member of the Justicialist Party, was detained in Paraguay on Tuesday night. During a routine customs check at the international bridge, Kueider was found carrying over $200,000 in undeclared cash. the incident has sparked a political firestorm in Argentina, with former President Cristina Kirchner launching a scathing attack on the current government.
Kirchner took to social media platform X,formerly known as Twitter,to criticize President Javier Milei’s management. “Tariffed democracy. Argentine senator detained by the Paraguayan authorities in the Triple border during the early hours of the morning with hundreds of thousands of dollars, for which he could not give an description,” she wrote. Kirchner highlighted Kueider’s recent shift in political allegiance, noting that he “voted as a Peronist who began to vote as a libertarian with the Milei government.”
Kirchner went on to accuse the Milei government of using questionable tactics to secure votes for its legislative agenda. “This is how votes are obtained for laws that harm the great majorities and the interests of the Nation; or the absences that prevent the repeal of the Decrees of Necessity and Urgency that condemn millions of Argentines to poverty or allow the Minister of Economy to put the country into debt again. Let no one act distracted… Not even the distracted one,” she stated.
Kirchner’s comments drew a sharp rebuke from Victoria Villarruel, the vice president. Villarruel shared a photo of a 2019 election ballot showing the presidential ticket of Alberto fernández and cristina Kirchner, with Kueider listed as a candidate for national senator. “Mrs. Gang Leader, to try to get dirty you have to be minimally clean and you are dirtier than a sewer. Senator Kueider entered his ballot, with his face to the side and you are still an affiliate of the party you chair,” Villarruel retorted.
Villarruel defended the Senate’s commitment to the rule of law, stating, “The Senate is respectful of the laws and the institutional order and justice will settle responsibilities.” She concluded with a warning to Kirchner, saying, “I assure you that we will take all the measures we have to take to pay for the criminal acts that have been committed. Your time has passed,stop harming Argentina with your gang and have the minimum dignity to stop tormenting our people.”
Buenos Aires legislator Ramiro Marra, a member of the libertarian party, was among the first to comment on the scandal. “There is no Kirchnerist who is not corrupt,” Marra declared. He pointed out Kueider’s past support for Kirchnerism and his recent alignment with Milei, notably his backing of the Bases Law.
As of Wednesday noon, no other officials from the ruling party had publicly addressed Kueider’s arrest. The incident continues to generate controversy and raise questions about political corruption in Argentina.
Argentine Senator Edgardo Kueider’s arrest in Paraguay with over $200,000 in undeclared cash has sent shockwaves through the country’s political landscape, sparking a flurry of reactions from across the ideological spectrum.
Kueider, who was apprehended at the Amistad International Bridge connecting Paraguay and Brazil, was found with the significant sum of US dollars and approximately 600,000 Argentine pesos during a routine check. Paraguayan tax authorities reported that Kueider did not declare the currency, leading to his detention.
News of kueider’s arrest ignited a firestorm of criticism from political opponents. Social leader Juan Grabois, a vocal critic of Kueider, lashed out, stating, “Remember that he was one of the traitors who took over for the Frente de Todos and sold himself to Banelco de Milei in the Bases Law. Guess where the tarasca he had came from?”
During a preparatory session in Congress for the re-election of Martín Menem as president of the Chamber of Deputies, German Martinez, head of the Union for the Homeland block, condemned La Libertad Avanza for its support of Kueider. “They see the regrettable spectacle of a senator of the Nation crossing the border and detained with illegal US$200,000, the same senator whom the president [del Senado] Villarruel gave him the Constitutional Affairs commission and that Santiago Caputo wanted as president of the Bicameral Intelligence commission,” Martinez declared.
He continued, “He is the same senator that everyone was talking about, that those up there were talking to so that he could vote on the Base Law. That senator,the key man of the Bases Law whom they wanted to send to the Uruguayan Embassy,is the same one detained at the border,guys. “They are making a disaster with Argentina,” he later stated.
Maximiliano Ferraro, a representative of the Civic coalition, also weighed in, stating, “When DNU allocated 100 billion for reserved SIDE expenses, we denounced it without hesitation. Then, we managed to overturn the DNU in Congress but, despite that, the money is still assigned to the association and was never returned to the National Treasury.”
Ferraro added,“Coincidence or not,today Senator Kueider appears crossing to Paraguay with a million-dollar loot.The ruling party wanted Kueider at the head of the Bicameral of Intelligence. From the Civic Coalition we will remain firm in the search for truth, openness and institutionality.”
María Eugenia Vidal, a deputy, expressed her dismay, saying, “Is anyone surprised that the senator detained crossing Paraguay with 200,000 USD has entered Alberto and Cristina’s list? The 2019 election was the triumph of the corrupt.”
Leftist Nicolás del Caño accused Kueider of having “taken out the bribe they gave him for voting for the Basic Law.” Julia Strada, a national representative of Union for the Homeland, also voiced her displeasure, calling Kueider’s situation “pure political caste that is finally part of the Milei government.”
Oscar Orué, director of Tax Revenue of Paraguay, provided details about Kueider’s arrest, stating, “he was detained during a routine check at 12:40 in the morning on the Amistad International Bridge, which connects paraguay and Brazil. in a vehicle that was entering paraguay they found some packages. They asked him if he had dollars and he did not declare it.He had more than 200 thousand in that currency and around 600 thousand Argentine pesos.” Orué added that Kueider “did not collaborate in the sense of informing what it was for, why it was brought, for what purpose, that will be determined in the administrative summary.”
Senator Luis Ignacio Kueider, a member of the Federal Unit bloc, finds himself at the center of controversy following his recent vote in support of a controversial economic bill. Kueider’s decision has sparked outrage within his former party, the Justicialist Party (PJ), and drawn criticism from prominent figures like former President Cristina Kirchner.
Kueider, who chairs the Constitutional Affairs Commission in the upper house, has a history of aligning himself with the ruling party. He notably attempted to secure a position for the libertarian party, Libertad Avanza (LLA), on the Strategic Intelligence commission and has consistently voted in line with the government’s agenda.
The senator’s recent vote in favor of Milei’s Bases Law project, a move that surprised many, has ignited a firestorm of criticism. “I did not vote for the Incentive Regime for Large Investments (RIGI), but there were senators from Unión por la Patria (UP) who did vote for it surreptitiously,” Kueider stated in a radio interview. “Because Anabel sagasti raised her hand and said that they were going to vote against, but when you look at it, not everyone did so, and those votes in favor gave the RIGI a positive vote,” he added. “let’s not have double talk,” he bellowed.
Kueider’s actions have prompted calls for his expulsion from the PJ. Juliana Di Tullio, a prominent member of the opposition, has publicly demanded his removal from the party. Former President Cristina Kirchner, while not directly naming Kueider, criticized his actions through a social media repost, suggesting a intentional attempt to undermine the opposition’s stance.
Kueider defended his vote, arguing that the opposition’s strategy was to reject the law in hopes of triggering a financial crisis. “UP’s slogan was to reject the law so that ‘everything explodes,’ because the next day the markets were going to skyrocket, there were going to be bank runs, we were going to enter in an even worse crisis,” Kueider explained.
The controversy surrounding Kueider’s vote highlights the deep divisions within Argentine politics and the complex challenges facing the country’s economy. As Kueider navigates this political storm, his future within the PJ and his role in shaping Argentina’s economic future remain uncertain.
This is a fascinating developing news story with strong political implications in Argentina. Here’s a potential interview structure based on the provided information, aiming for a balanced and insightful discussion:
**Interview Title:** ”Kueider Arrest: A Political Firestorm in Argentina”
**Guests:**
* **Political Analyst:** An expert familiar with Argentine politics, able to provide context on the political agendas and relationships involved.
* **Representative of Kueider’s Party (Justicialist Party):** To give the outlook of Kueider’s party and perhaps address the allegations.
* **Representative of the Opposing Party (likely from the coalition criticizing Kueider):** to voice the strongest criticisms and arguments against Kueider and the Milei government.
**Interview Outline:**
**1. Introduction:**
* Briefly summarize the event: Senator Kueider’s arrest, the undeclared cash, and the political fallout.
* Introduce the guests and their perspectives.
**2.Facts of the Case:**
* Discuss the details of Kueider’s arrest: the amount of money, the circumstances, and the Paraguayan authorities’ response.
* Ask the political analyst to provide context on legal implications of undeclared cash and potential charges Kueider could face.
**3. Political Reactions:**
* play soundbites or quotes from Kirchner, Villarruel, Marra, Grabois, Martinez, Ferraro, Vidal, del Caño, and Strada.
* Ask each guest:
* What is their reaction to the arrest?
* How does this incident reflect on Kueider’s party and the Milei government?
* Do they believe Kueider’s past political affiliations are relevant to this case?
**4. Corruption Allegations:**
* Explore the broader issue of corruption in Argentine politics:
* Has Kueider’s arrest shed light on systemic problems?
* Are there other instances where politicians have been accused of similar behaviour?
* what steps can be taken to address corruption concerns?
**5. Kueider’s Legal Defense and Next Steps:**
* Invite the Justicialist Party representative to respond to the allegations and outline Kueider’s planned defense.
* Discuss potential political consequences for Kueider and his party.
**6.Impact on Milei’s Government:**
* Will this incident damage Milei’s government’s legitimacy and public support?
* How might opposition parties capitalize on this situation?
**7.Conclusion:**
* Summarize the key points of the discussion and speculate on the potential long-term impact of Kueider’s arrest on Argentine politics.
* Encourage viewers to stay informed about developments in this ongoing story.
**Remember:**
* Maintain a neutral and unbiased tone throughout the interview.
* Allow guests ample possibility to express their perspectives without interruption.
* Encourage respectful dialog even when there are strongly differing opinions.
* Fact-check information provided by guests and provide context when necessary.
