The Argentine court closed on Monday (23) a case against the country’s president, Alberto Fernández, for accepting a donation as a way of compensating for potential damage caused by non-compliance with health protocols during the Covid-19 pandemic.
At a time when Argentines were facing a strict quarantine, Fernández welcomed at least 13 people to the official residence to celebrate, in 2020, the birthday of the first lady, Fabíola Yañez. A photograph leaked to the press recorded everyone smiling, without a mask and failing to comply with social distancing guidelines.
As part of the agreement with the court announced on Monday, Fernández and his wife are expected to donate 3 million Argentine pesos (about R$121,000) to the Malbrán Institute, a center for research and development of vaccines and serums. The proposal was made by the president himself, who, according to the local press, will take out a bank loan to make the transfer.
“There is no controversy between the parties regarding the legal qualification of the fact, the functioning of the institution invoked, the extent of the damage and the proportionality of the offer”, wrote the judge when approving the agreement. The prosecution estimated that the amount “would cover the price of a ventilator” of intensive care and four days of hospitalization of a patient with Covid.
“Citizens have the right to propose economic compensation to extinguish the action, and I did that. I used a right that I have as a citizen, not a prerogative as a president,” Fernández said in defending his proposal, which was criticized by the opposition.
The case came to light in August last year and became known as Olivos-gate, as it took place at the official residence of Olivos. At first, the president even suggested that the photo was a manipulation or a record of a meeting held before the pandemic.
Then, another image released proved that the guests were celebrating Yañez’s 39th birthday, with cake, dinner and waiters, leaving no doubt that the meeting was at the official residence and on the indicated date. Fernández then backtracked and apologized.
Also in August, the politician was indicted and accused of having violated a decree signed by himself. In his defense, he claimed that, as there were no contaminations at the meeting, there was no crime. “No sanitary measures were violated, after all, there was no spread of the Sars-Cov-2 virus.”
In that phase of the quarantine, the inhabitants of Greater Buenos Aires could not gather at other people’s homes, and only essential workers were allowed to circulate. Commerce and schools were closed, and to go more than 500 meters from home or use public transport, it was necessary to show a certificate.
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