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Argentinian vice-president Amadou Boudou to testify in corruption case Argentinian vice-president Amado Boudou to testify in corruption case
(25 days later)
A major corruption scandal implicating senior Argentinian politicians will reach its climax in a federal courtroom on Monday, when the country's vice-president will appear in court over allegations that he abused his power to win control of the firm that prints the nation's banknotes.A major corruption scandal implicating senior Argentinian politicians will reach its climax in a federal courtroom on Monday, when the country's vice-president will appear in court over allegations that he abused his power to win control of the firm that prints the nation's banknotes.
Amado Boudou will be the first vice-president since the country returned to democracy in 1983 to be ordered to appear in court for questioning in a case that some opposition politicians claim could involve President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner herself.Amado Boudou will be the first vice-president since the country returned to democracy in 1983 to be ordered to appear in court for questioning in a case that some opposition politicians claim could involve President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner herself.
The flamboyant vice-president has stood in colourful contrast to his more traditional Peronist colleagues since he was chosen by Fernández in 2011 as her running mate. He rides a Harley-Davidson motorbike, sports leather jackets and sings with Argentina's hit-making rock band Mancha de Rolando on concert tours.The flamboyant vice-president has stood in colourful contrast to his more traditional Peronist colleagues since he was chosen by Fernández in 2011 as her running mate. He rides a Harley-Davidson motorbike, sports leather jackets and sings with Argentina's hit-making rock band Mancha de Rolando on concert tours.
But on Monday Boudou will appear in court after a judge ruled that there was enough evidence to formally question him over his role in a case in which secret partners and shell companies allegedly benefited from tax exemptions and lucrative government contracts after buying the bankrupt Ciccone Calcografica printing company at a cut-rate price.But on Monday Boudou will appear in court after a judge ruled that there was enough evidence to formally question him over his role in a case in which secret partners and shell companies allegedly benefited from tax exemptions and lucrative government contracts after buying the bankrupt Ciccone Calcografica printing company at a cut-rate price.
Federal Judge Ariel Lijo said last week that Boudou, who was economy minister at the time, helped to illegally lift bankruptcy proceedings by Argentina's AFIP tax bureau against Ciccone in return for 70% ownership of the firm, which had lucrative government contracts for printing pesos, being handed over to his business associates. The objective was to get hold of Ciccone's lucrative government contracts for printing pesos, the judge stated in his summons for Boudou to testify. Boudou denies any wrongdoing. The Ciccone scandal, about which Fernández has made no public comment on the scandal, is adding to pressure on her administration during the final year of the president's second term in office.Federal Judge Ariel Lijo said last week that Boudou, who was economy minister at the time, helped to illegally lift bankruptcy proceedings by Argentina's AFIP tax bureau against Ciccone in return for 70% ownership of the firm, which had lucrative government contracts for printing pesos, being handed over to his business associates. The objective was to get hold of Ciccone's lucrative government contracts for printing pesos, the judge stated in his summons for Boudou to testify. Boudou denies any wrongdoing. The Ciccone scandal, about which Fernández has made no public comment on the scandal, is adding to pressure on her administration during the final year of the president's second term in office.
With annual inflation reaching about 40% and in an upward spiral accompanied by growing insecurity on the country's streets, opposition candidates have started to line up for the October 2015 presidential elections, in which Fernández will not be able to seek re-election.With annual inflation reaching about 40% and in an upward spiral accompanied by growing insecurity on the country's streets, opposition candidates have started to line up for the October 2015 presidential elections, in which Fernández will not be able to seek re-election.
Members of the Ciccone family, who claim they have been threatened by people close to the vice-president, have testified that they were forced to hand over the company to business associates of Boudou three years ago after meetings they held with him to discuss the future of their company.Members of the Ciccone family, who claim they have been threatened by people close to the vice-president, have testified that they were forced to hand over the company to business associates of Boudou three years ago after meetings they held with him to discuss the future of their company.
Boudou has scoffed at claims by Guillermo Reinwick, a member of the Ciccone family, who told the judge that his daughter's life had been threatened. "These are people under threat who talk on the radio, meet producers, appear on television, it's very strange," Boudou remarked to the press. "In the movies, people who are threatened undergo plastic surgery, change their identities, leave the country."Boudou has scoffed at claims by Guillermo Reinwick, a member of the Ciccone family, who told the judge that his daughter's life had been threatened. "These are people under threat who talk on the radio, meet producers, appear on television, it's very strange," Boudou remarked to the press. "In the movies, people who are threatened undergo plastic surgery, change their identities, leave the country."