Former Argentine President Alberto Fernández has been accused of domestic violence by his former partner, Fabiola Yañez, who served as First Lady during his term from 2019 to 2023.
Ms. Yañez filed a lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging that she endured physical and psychological abuse throughout their relationship, particularly at the Quinta de Olivos presidential residence.
According to the court filings, Ms. Yañez, 43, claimed that Mr. Fernández, 65, frequently struck her, leaving her with a black eye and bruised face, and even kicked her in the stomach. The complaint was filed after images of her injuries were leaked on social media.
READ ALSO: Argentina police officers jailed for life for racial killing
The suit also alleges that Ms. Yañez was forced to undergo an illegal abortion in 2016, a period when abortion was still prohibited in Argentina. She further claimed that Mr. Fernández controlled her movements and restricted her freedom.
Ramiro González, the prosecutor handling the case, charged Mr. Fernández with “minor and serious injuries, doubly aggravated” and “coercive threats.” The former president has denied the accusations, asserting that he has evidence to defend himself in court.
The allegations surfaced when prosecutors discovered photos of Ms. Yañez with a black eye and bruised arm while searching the cell phone of Mr. Fernández’s former secretary for evidence in a separate fraud investigation. Despite their decade-long relationship and having a child together, Mr. Fernández and Ms. Yañez never married.
Judge Julián Ercolini has issued a restraining order against Mr. Fernández, preventing him from coming within 500 meters of Ms. Yañez and barring him from leaving the country until the case is resolved.
The accusations have sparked widespread criticism, with prominent political figures condemning the former president. Former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner expressed her outrage on social media, stating, “The pictures of Mrs. Fabiola Yañez with hematomas on her face and arms, together with the chats, not only show the beatings she took but also reveal the most sordid and dark aspects of the human condition.” She added, “Misogyny, male chauvinism, and hypocrisy are the pillars of physical and verbal violence against women and have no political affiliation, crisscrossing across the entire society.”
María Eugenia Vidal, a former Buenos Aires province governor, declared, “Monsters belong behind bars.” Ramiro Marra, a legislator from the ruling coalition La Libertad Avanza (LLA), also criticized Mr. Fernández, calling him “a piece of shit.”
