No delay for trial of Argentina’s ex-president

The first trial against former Argentine president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is still slated for May 21, despite a supreme court request to review the case file. Fernández de Kirchner is accused of arranging public works contracts to benefit an allied businessman during her government.

Requesting the review triggered criticism from government authorities and even street protests during Wednesday night, because it implied a postponement of the trial start. But the supreme court said “the file request from this court doesn’t suspend the trial in process.”

The court even added that the review and the trial can proceed simultaneously.

Fernández de Kirchner’s defense team, as well as those of other accused in the same case, requested to delay the trial arguing that inquires related to the case weren’t complete. A similar request had already been tossed out by the court that will hear the case.

The former president faces charges in several corruption probes, including the Los Sauces and Notebooks cases.