Argentine ruling party ensnared in illicit campaign finance probe
A formal investigation was launched today in Argentina following revelations that President Mauricio Macri's "Let's Change" alliance used the names of hundreds of low-income residents to launder campaign contributions to congressional candidates in last year's mid-term elections.
The probe, headed by Federal Judge Sebastián Casanello and Federal Prosecutor Carlos Stornelli, was ordered pursuant to evidence uncovered by investigative journalist Juan Amorín of the progressive daily El Destape of at least 476 cases of public aid recipients fraudulently listed as "contributors" in campaign finance disclosures filed by the ruling right-wing alliance.
Their stated contributions averaged 2,400 pesos ($140 at the time), and totaled at least 1.16 million pesos ($67,000). Most were listed as coming from residents of Villa Itatí, a shantytown 6 mi southeast of Buenos Aires.
"I earn 200 pesos ($7) a day doing odd jobs, and putting bread on the table has gotten harder," Luis Jaime, one of the Villa Itatí residents improperly listed as a contributor, said. "I would never do a thing like contribute money - least of all to this government."
"They are shitty scoundrels!"
Party money
Argentine law mandates a punishment of three to ten years in prison to any candidate or campaign official convicted of laundering campaign contributions, when said offense exceeds 300,000 pesos.
Macri has faced numerous campaign finance probes since the 2015 election, which he narrowly won.
The largest party in the Let's Change alliance, Macri's hard-right PRO, declared 22 million pesos ($2.4 million at the time) in private contributions - but no less than 92 million pesos ($10 million) in unspecified party development expenses.
Campaign expenses, per Argentine electoral law, cannot be counted as "party development."
In the tank
Vice President Gabriela Michetti's think tank, SUMA, was raided in 2016 over 4.1 million pesos ($450,000) in unreported funds allegedly diverted to Macri's 2015 campaign.
The finances of other right-wing think tanks such as 'Fundar', 'Creer y Crecer', 'Formar', as well as Michetti's SUMA, have also faced campaign finance violation probes - though all these cases later stalled in the courts.
"Most members of the Macri administration either control or sit on the board of any number of think tanks or foundations that carry out political activities in parallel with Macri's PRO," Congressman Rodolfo Tailhade pointed out.
"These non-profits are in effect used to finance PRO operations."
At: https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eldestapeweb.com%2Fexclusivo-cambiemos-utilizo-el-nombre-beneficiarios-sociales-blanquear-dinero-la-campana-n45194
An exultant Macri cavorts under a display thanking supporters for his unexpected win in last year's congressional mid-terms.
His Villa Itatí "contributors" demand an apology instead.
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This has to be a new one destined for the Guinness Book of World Records.
One can only shake one's head, sandensea.
Will any of them ever be forced to face the consequences? Sure doesn't look that way.
It was estimated that at least 116,000 votes for Cristina Kirchner and the Citizens Unity candidates, disappeared by simply having vote totals in the precinct summaries edited out.
For example (one of many):
Vote summary form showing 53 votes for Kirchner (4th row from right, two-thirds down), with 52 for Macri's candidate; 111 total. All precinct chairs signed below.
The revised form, as published by (Macri-run) provincial authorities - with zero votes for Kirchner (but the same 111 vote total). Note the white smudges in the squares, typical of hasty file editing.
The judge overseeing voting in Buenos Aires Province, you'll recall, was Macri's high school pal. He was appointed by decree just before the election, and resigned within days afterward.
Here's hoping a future administration can uncover what really happened during the 2017 election (and much else besides).