Argentina: Given a complaint against former president Alberto Fernández, bishop warns about toxic leadership

The Bishop of San Francisco (Argentina), Mons. Sergio Osvaldo Buenanueva reflected on the current situation in the country as a report of violence against the former President of the Nation, Alberto Fernández, became known in recent days.

The complainant is his ex-partner, Fabiola Yáñez, who is suing him for “serious injuries doubly qualified by the relationship and perpetrated within the framework of gender violence with abuse of power and authority,” according to what the television channel learned. TN.

The complaint was precipitated after, in the framework of an investigation carried out against Alberto Fernández for alleged corruption in the contracting of insurance during his presidential term, the mobile phone of María Cantero, secretary of the former president, was seized, from which conversations with Yáñez who would report acts of violence and injuries.

For his part, the former president assured in a statement that “the truth of the facts is different” and that “what Fabiola Yáñez now accuses me of never happened,” and she anticipated that she would not make media statements. However, she granted a interview to the journalist Horacio Verbitsky and another to the Spanish newspaper El País, which has not yet been published.

Well-known promoter of the legalization of abortion in Argentina —approved during his mandate— Fernández arrived at describe as “the first feminist” in the country.

“A bitter taste”

In a column titled Rebuild from belowBishop Buenanueva acknowledged that “the week that has just ended leaves us Argentines with a bitter taste, a mixture of anger, indignation and sadness.”

“A corruption investigation, as if in passing, exposed a situation of violence involving the previous president and his partner,” he continued.

In this framework, he recalled that “politics, politicians and the exercise of power are irreplaceable in pursuing the common good,” and specified: “The good, in any of its forms, cannot be pursued if, in some way, it is not It is part of ourselves.”

“Corruption is reached after rushing down a slope of human mediocrity that is never for solitary individuals. It represents a system that has allowed itself to be won by the mediocrity of ideas, values ​​and truths,” said the prelate.

Recalling the thoughts of Pope Francis, he noted that “politics is one of the highest forms of charity,” understanding charity, “much more than emotion.”

“It is the sustained decision to seek the good of others above one’s own interest, individual or party. Politics, therefore, is not the cause of corruption, but it is a risk situation for those who do not have sufficient personal suitability,” he warned.

A “mediocrity of toxic leadership” in Argentine politics

Along these lines, he referred to the crisis of political parties in Argentina, considering that “it has favored that mediocrity of toxic leaderships that end up electing visibly inadequate candidates, ethically and technically, with the irresponsible approval of leaders and activists.”

“The consequences are visible to everyone and constitute Argentina’s heavy social debt,” he lamented.

For this reason, he called on both “ordinary” citizens, as well as the organizations and institutions of society – from communicators to businessmen and union members, without excluding religious leaders – to be honest about their responsibility “in this debacle.” from which “we are not alien.”

In that sense, he called for a “reconstruction from below, with many hands and hearts that join together and with an effort that appears arduous and will require a lot of time,” in addition to a “remarkable moral decision to get to work.”

“In Argentine society, in its people and in its leaders, there is no lack of conditions to take these steps of genuine conversion to goodness,” the bishop confided, encouraging us to ask for “God’s help” and give Christ “space in our lives.” personal and citizen.”