Sanctions for deputies who visited repressors are debated: all were absent except Arrieta

In a plenary session of the Chamber of Deputiesthe Six deputies from La Libertad advance who visited those convicted of crimes of crimes against humanity during the dictatorship They did not attend the meeting they were summoned to in order to explain whether they were planning a plan to mitigate the repressors. They only sent communications and, minutes after the meeting began, the police arrived. Lourdes Arrieta. The legislators promised to present a report to advance the investigation into the incident.

The deputies of the libertarian bloc who went to the Ezeiza prison were Beltrán Benedit, Guillermo Montenegro, Fernanda Araujo, Lourdes Arrieta (she left the space and formed her own bench), Rocío Bonacci and Alida Ferreyra. This last deputy participated in the plenary session that ruled Clean Record But after signing the project, he left the room and avoided participating in the commission. The deputy Benedit He did not present any defense, while Arrieta asked to speak in the plenary session and said: “I remain available for those who want to ask more questions and I can present more evidence.”

In this context, Karina Banfi (UCR) He criticized the repetition of long statements that arrived minutes before the start of the plenary session, which made it impossible to read and analyze them. “We are highlighting the principle of defense that any person accused of something must have,” he said. However, Deputies of the Union for the Homeland They read fragments of the statements of the defense of Freedom Advances and requested the presence of Fernando Martinezdirector of the Federal Penitentiary Service, to detail why special income was given to the deputies.

Debate on sanctions against La Libertad deputies advances

In the absence of the deputies of Freedom Advancesthe porteña Paula Penacca (Union for the Homeland) read a passage from the discharge of Rocío Bonaccione of those who previously expressed regret for the visit. “I was never part of the group of 13 deputies who organized these excursions or They discussed initiatives related to the treatment of the sentences imposed on these prisoners “Nor did I participate in the meeting on the issue,” he commented, emphasizing a possible plan to soften the sentences for the repressors.

Then, the Buenos Aires one Cecilia Moureau (Union for the Homeland) reviewed the statement of Alida Ferreyrawho previously went with Beltran Benedict to see other repressors at the Federal Unit of Campo de Mayo. “This visit, among other things, was carried out in the professional framework as criminal lawyer to focus on the situation of the state of detention units”read and expanded that Ferreyra claims to have gone in the capacity of “receiver of political concerns” and projects from different sectors of society.”

In another intervention, the Buenos Aires native Eduardo Falcone (MID, ex-libertarian) assured that neither he nor his colleagues from his current bloc took part in that type of visit to the repressors: “If they held a deliberative meeting or project analysis, “They did it completely behind our backs.”

Paula Penacca

Paula Penacca, member of the Union for the Homeland party.

Mariano Fuchila

For her part, the porteña Silvana Giudici (PRO) He downplayed the importance of the day: “Continuing with this spirit, This supposedly clandestine and forbidden issue that may end in a sort of pardon“I think we are confusing the scenario.”They want to expel six deputies in a review commission who committed an act that this House does not support and has repudiated it, but it is evident that they want to continue this discussion forever without reaching any solution,” he added.

Defense of the deputies of La Libertad advances

Except for the Entre Ríos Beltran Benedictall the deputies presented a statement arguing for the visit to the genocides. The Buenos Aires Fernanda Araujoin this regard, pointed out that “the tour was intended to observe first-hand the conditions of the facilities of the penitentiary center, and to listen to the prison authorities, the medical staff and all the professionals there.” The Buenos Aires native Guillermo Montenegro -without signing it- presented the same text.

In addition to the passage read byr Cecilia Moureauthe Corrientes -but representing CABA- Alida Ferreyra also argued “humanitarian reasons”, that “the non-existence of any crime” was established and that “the quality of legislative management necessarily allows for different perspectives within a democratic framework of tolerance.”

Silvia Lospennato

Silvia Lospennato, head of the Commission.

Mariano Fuchila

For its part, the Santa Fe woman Rocío Bonacci She considered it “unfair and arbitrary” that “my conduct is not distinguished from other conduct displayed, in a sort of political lynching” and stated that she was invited for “make direct contact with the federal penitentiary system“. In turn, she pointed out that when she noticed that repressors were being visited “I decided to remain completely oblivious to such a situation” and acknowledged that “I came to understand the institutional gravity of the visit.” He also said that Benedict was the organizer of the visit: “I tried to get him to explain to me why he hid the real reason for the visit from me, which he did not do.”

In his defense, Arrieta also pointed to Benedict as an organizer, who “He criticized the lukewarmness of the Executive Branch or boasted and endorsed statements about his ties with Minister Patricia Bullrich and the Head of the Penitentiary Service.” The Mendoza woman reiterated her previous accusations and pointed out details of the visit, among which she mentioned that Alfredo Astiz “didn’t take his eyes off me, something that at times intimidated and bothered me”“My insistence on the transparency of the visit generated strong internal retaliation,” he added.