ARGENTINA: Cristina Fernandez hits back at Supreme Court after they strike down her proposed reforms

Record ID: 447448

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Cristina Fernandez hits back at Supreme Court after they strike down her proposed reforms
  • Date: 20th June 2013
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION POLITICIANS HOLDING A BANNER THAT READS "WITHOUT JUSTICE THERE IS NO FUTURE" VARIOUS OF PEOPLE PROTESTING IN FRONT OF CONGRESS
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9GRJR1TR46WQIIRB6XI5312QR
  • Story Text: Argentine President Cristina Fernandez hit back at the country's Supreme Court on Thursday (June 20), after it struck down a key part of a proposed court reform law that would have mandated the election of members of the board that chooses federal judges.
    The reform - which Fernandez said was needed to "democratise the judiciary" - had been condemned by critics as a veiled attempt by the president to seek a constitutional change to allow her to seek a third term.
    Six of the Supreme Court's seven judges agreed to strike the provision on grounds that it was unconstitutional.
    Speaking to supporters in Argentina's second-city of Rosario, Fernandez mockingly said that, next term, she would seek to be a judge since, she said, they could disregard the rest of the country in making decisions.
    "The truth is when they talk about constitutional reform, and whether or not there will be a re-election-- the truth is that, in 2015, I want to be a judge. That's the truth. In 2015, I want to be a judge. Why (would I want to be ) president? But I don't want to be a Supreme Court judge, no, I want to be a lower court judge, a federal judge or national or correctional, so I can just have a pen, paper and a signature. Why do I care how the people vote? Why do I care about Congressional deputies? Why do I care about senators? Why do I care about the presidency if I can override them all (as a judge)? That's the truth so Judge Cristina for 2015!," she said.
    Fernandez was re-elected in 2011 on promises of increasing the role of government in Latin America's third biggest economy and tackling oligopolies such as the powerful Grupo Clarin media empire with an anti-monopoly law.
    Resisting pressure from critics, Fernandez vowed to press on with reforms to shake up Argentina.
    "The burden is heavy and difficult and I know that they want to make it even harder on me because when you touch certain corporations, when you touch certain powers, it comes back to you right away. I don't care if my role in history is to open up the debate for democratic justice, a legitimate justice and better justice in the Argentine Republic, I am willing to take on anything that comes at me, as I have always done in life," she added.
    Centre-leftist Fernandez's popularity has taken a tumble in recent months as voters criticise her for mismanaging the economy and what many see as an increasingly undemocratic governing style.
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