What did Kirchnerist leaders say about Fabiola Yañez’s complaint against Alberto Fernández?

Female leaders of Kirchnerism harshly targeted Alberto Fernández and defended Fabiola Yañez in her complaint for gender violence

Former President Alberto Fernández was accused yesterday of “physical violence” and “psychological terrorism” by former First Lady Fabiola Yañez. The scandal had strong repercussions throughout politics and, in particular, in Kirchnerism, which revealed its discontent and discomfort with the former leader of the Frente de Todos.

In keeping with the open internal conflict that took place during much of the previous administration, the main leaders surrounding Cristina Kirchner distanced themselves from the former president. “I believe her,” said the senator of Unión por la Patria (UP), Juliana di Tullio, on her personal X account.

“My opinion? Always, in all cases, without exception: I believe her. Regardless of ideologies, parties, friendships, nothing. I repeat, without exceptions. I hope they always believe us and care when we report being violated. And to those who dismantled all public policies and programs to prevent and address gender violence and now are outraged, one word: hypocrites,” Senator Anabel Fernández Sagasti said on social media.

The message from Senator Juliana di Tullio

The first Kirchnerist leader to speak out on the issue was the mayor of Quilmes, Mayra Mendoza. In a striking rebuke, she linked Fabiola Yañez’s complaint to the failed political relationship that Alberto Fernández had with former vice president Cristina Kirchner.

“Given the profile of Alberto Fernández, a cis male who showed that he could not assume the political leadership of a woman like Cristina Fernández, and who always worried about whether his masculinity would be hurt, he has all the characteristics of having exercised gender violence,” Mendoza said in statements to CNN Radio, and called for the need for serious, objective judicial action detached from the pressures of the establishment.

“Gender violence is unfortunately transversal to all sectors, groups, political parties,” said the mayor of Quilmes. And she concluded: “In the same way that he irresponsibly celebrated his wife’s birthday, and then blamed her for it, I believe it is possible. These are typical characteristics of circles of violence, this has been studied and those of us who work with networks that address gender violence know that this is the case.”

The government of Axel Kicillof also made a statement on the matter. When asked by Infobae, the governor’s entourage hinted that “it is an issue that is already in the hands of Justice and we hope for a prompt clarification. Since we took office, we have had a Ministry that takes care of and assists the victims. If confirmed, it is a matter of absolute gravity.”

The government of Axel Kicillof said that the complaint against Alberto Fernández is “absolutely serious”. “We always said that what is personal is political,” said the Minister of Women, Gender and Sexual Diversity of Buenos Aires, Estela Díaz.

The Minister of Women, Gender and Sexual Diversity of the province of Buenos Aires, Estela Díaz, stated that “if this is confirmed, it is tremendous and very serious. In public figures, the responsibility is even greater because we have always said that what is personal is political.”

Meanwhile, the head of the Buenos Aires Government Advisory Board and one of the vice presidents of the national Justicialist Party, Cristina Álvarez Rodríguez, warned that “any act of sexist violence is condemned, regardless of who commits it. Our responsibility is to listen to and support the victims. While justice investigates, our task is to work for an efficient State that combats gender violence.”

In a tone of regret and self-criticism, the former Buenos Aires legislator of the Frente de Todos, Ofelia Fernández, was one of the leaders who spoke most harshly against Alberto Fernández for Yañez’s complaint.

“I don’t want to wait or speculate on these things, I never did. I would first say that any hitter is a son of a bitch. I also think that Alberto Fernández is a psychopath for having used feminism and its militants for years. And although it is annoying to see today many assholes who never believed a woman who denounced wanting to hang on to this while they laugh, I think it is appropriate to speak to the thousands of girls who I asked some time ago to join me in this that turned out to be an endless disappointment,” said the leader, aligned with Juan Grabois’ Frente Patria Grande, on her personal X account.

And he concluded: “I have to take responsibility for having believed so much rubbish. I have to ask for forgiveness and tell them that the immensity of this frustration has to be the reason why, through learning and without believing too much in anyone, we try again.”

“I would first say that any hitter is a son of a bitch. I also think that Alberto Fernández is a psychopath,” Ofelia Fernández lashed out.

From the same political space, and in the same line as Ofelia Fernández, Juan Grabois also harshly questioned the former president and pointed against officials who were in charge of gender areas and other Peronist leaders. In a long post on his X account, the social leader began with the following comment: “In ethical terms, it is necessary to accompany the victim. In legal terms, the principle of innocence applies. In political terms, the principle of not playing dumb applies.”

Grabois said he was not surprised by the complaint. He acknowledged that he voted for Alberto Fernández knowing that “he was not worthy of the presidential investiture,” but he considered that “he would vote for him again because at that time he was the best possible alternative.”

The mayor of Moreno, Mariel Fernández, -one of the leaders who traveled with Cristina Kirchner to Mexico- was more concise when she spoke about Yañez’s complaint. “As in all cases, the important thing is to support the decision of the person who suffers gender violence. Fabiola, you have my love and support,” she said on her X account.

Anabel Fernández Sagasti questioned the “hypocrisy” of the ruling party and supported Yañez

“The complaint against Alberto Fernández shows us how much we have to continue working to eradicate gender violence in a world of hypocrites who hide behind our struggles to commit violence in their homes. We will continue fighting to build a country without machos or fascists,” posted the former head of INADI, Victoria Donda.

Fabiola Yañez’s complaint was made through the Zoom platform before the court of federal magistrate Julián Ercolini, after chats and photos that were on the cell phone of Fernández’s secretary became known. According to the former first lady’s account, in the context of her relationship with the former president, she suffered “physical violence” and “psychological terrorism” from him. And she claims to have photos, chats and other evidence that prove it.

Following the complaint, Ercolini ordered “to suspend all types of physical contact, telephone contact – by landline and/or cell phone -, by email, text messaging system and/or voice through any platform, through third parties and/or by any other means that means unjustified interference”, in addition to “prohibiting the former president from leaving the country”.

In response to the accusation, Alberto Fernández said that the complaint is “false” and anticipated that he will present to the courts “evidence and testimonies that will reveal what really happened.”