Money Laundering Conviction in the “Lázaro Baez” Case: Brief Notes on its Legal and Political Impact
On late February, 2021, Lázaro Baez, a local businessman with strong ties to the Kirchner family, was convicted to 12 years in prison –together with other 21 defendants, also convicted to between 9 and 2 and half years in prison- for aggravated money laundering. Baez was convicted for having laundered assets derived from corruption in public contracting and tax fraud during the Kirchners Presidencies (2003-2015).
Executive-Judiciary Tension surrounding Criminal Investigations of alleged past Corruption
The decision in “Baez” was taken in the context of increased claims from prominent Government officials that ongoing criminal investigations against Vice-President Fernández de Kirchner must be closed, under the argument that they constitute a so-called “lawfare”.
New Antitrust Law Project Bill and Current Status of the Antitrust Authority
In early February 2021, the Argentine Senate approved a bill aiming to modify the Antitrust Law No. 27,442. Among other changes, the bill suppresses the leniency program, the cease of conduct agreements, and modifies the procedure for the appointment of the National Competition Authority’s (the “NCA”) members.
