President’s speech

CFK insists again on ‘democratization’ of justice

Speaking at Government House to make announcements in the transport sector, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner yesterday asserted she was “more convinced than ever” about the “democratization of justice,” including the “popular election of judges.”

The head of state argued that the majority of the legal system was motivated when it came to “judging public officials,” but criticized a perceived lack of action against “business or private entities.”

Fernández de Kirchner combined her attack on judges and prosecutors with a critique of the current consumer defence law, calling for a reform of the latter after mentioning a “scam” for over 1.7 million clients of “six banks,” who were denied compensation after being unduly charged commissions by the banks.

She continued to announce a 13 percent increase in tourism abroad, claiming it was a “myth that nobody could leave the country” due to exchange restrictions, and emphatically suggested that the 4.11 percent fall in the influx of tourists to the country was “not due to inflation” but rather to “the global economic crisis.”

“What a miracle!” she ironically exclaimed referring to the increase, adding that “some newspapers seem like science fiction,” like “A Space Odyssey” writing about “how bad things are.”

The President also announced the completion of the placement of new railway tracks on the Sarmiento line, and proceeded to call for passengers to “look after the train” and refrain from defacing it with graffiti.

We are working on “how to channel young people’s creativity” away from “vandalism,” she affirmed, adding that such behaviour generates ill-feeling among “thousands of people and workers.”

—Herald staff with Telam