Brutal Domestic Violence Among The Elite In Argentina

Black and Blue Argentina Argentine authorities have accused former President Alberto Fernández of physically and psychologically abusing his former partner and former First Lady Fabiola Yáñez during his term in office, a case that has sparked outrage in the Latin American nation, the New York Times reported. Last week, prosecutors said the former Peronist leader had done “grievous bodily harm” and made “coercive threats” against Yáñez. They alleged that he repeatedly slapped his partner and, in one instance, punched her in the face, leaving her a black eye. Court documents also showed that Fernández allegedly kicked Yáñez in the stomach, despite suspecting she might be pregnant. Yáñez also claims Fernández controlled her movements and forced her to have an abortion in 2016, when abortion was illegal in Argentina. The allegations came to light through photos found on the phone of Fernández’s former secretary, María Cantero, during an investigation into an unrelated embezzlement case. These photos, showing Yáñez with a black eye and bruised arm, were leaked to the media, prompting her to file a judicial complaint against Fernández and give interviews detailing the abuse. Cantero testified that Yáñez was a victim and confirmed the authenticity of a number of chat messages between her and the former first lady, according to the Buenos Aires Times. However, she maintained that she never directly witnessed physical violence. The allegations prompted anger and condemnation across Argentina, including from both political allies and opponents of Fernández. Fernández has denied all allegations, countering that he has “never hit a woman.” He acknowledged that he and Yáñez had arguments, but denied claims of violence. The scandal has also increased public scrutiny against the former president, who remains deeply unpopular over his handling of the country’s economic crisis. His successor, Javier Milei, has criticized Fernández for ineffective government spending on domestic violence initiatives.