Alberto Fernández testifies in Iran-AMIA investigation

Presidential hopeful Alberto Fernández testified Wednesday before the court investigating the Cristina Fernández de Kirchner administration's 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Iran.

Prosecutors allege the former national government colluded with the Islamic Republic, offering impunity for Iranian officials' alleged involvement in the 1994 bombing of Buenos Aires' AMIA Jewish cultural centre, in exchange for trade benefits for Argentina.

Little was known of Fernández's statement to judge Claudio Bonadio at press time. He arrived a little after 10am to the Retiro courthouse.

Fernández was the Cabinet chief of late former president Néstor and, briefly, during Fernández de Kirchner's frist term. After several years of bitter division and public tension, he is now running for president with Fernández de Kirchner as his running mate.

The 2013 MOU was declared unconstitutional by Argentina's Congress in 2015, after Fernández de Kirchner's alliance lost control of the Legislature. 

Judge Bonadio has on multiple occasions ordered that Congress strip Senator Fernández de Kirchner of her immunity, accusing her initially of Treason and now of "aggravated conspiracy".

The case is before Oral Federal Court 8 (TOF 8), which is preparing to take the case to trial, though pre-trial presiding judge Bonadio can still request evidence be included in the casefile.

Fernández was summoned to testify after criticising the MOU in a recent television interview, while clarifying that he did not believe his running mate had committed a crime.

Journalist Nelson Casto, who interviewed Fernández in said interview on February, will testify tomorrow Thursday.

Fernández will visita Córdoba this week to meet reelected governor Juan Schiaretti.

On Tuesday, he celebrated Independence Day alongside his candidate for governor of Buenos Aires Axel Kicillof and the lead candidate on the ballot for legistlative seats representing Buenos Aires province in the national Congress, Sergio Massa.

-TIMES/PERFIL