Fabiola Yáñez, the former partner of Argentina’s ex-president Alberto Fernández, has filed accusations of physical and emotional abuse against him. A criminal investigation is now underway.
Yáñez claimed that Fernández engaged in “psychological abuse, phone harassment, and physical abuse” during their relationship.
Yáñez, who testified from Madrid, alleged that Fernández threatened and “psychologically intimidated” her on a daily basis, causing “minor injuries in a context of gender-based violence.”
The court did not provide further details regarding the accusations of physical violence.
Alberto Fernández, who served as Argentina’s president from 2019 to 2023, denied the allegations, stating on social media, “It’s false, and what I’m now being accused of never happened.” He has declined to comment further, citing family privacy.
Judge Julián Ercolini has issued a restraining order against Fernández, preventing him from coming within 500 meters of Yáñez or contacting her.
The ruling also prohibits Fernández from leaving Argentina and requires him to “cease all forms of intimidation or harassment, both directly and indirectly” towards Yáñez.
Argentina’s authorities have been instructed to provide police protection for Yáñez.
These allegations emerge along with a separate investigation into Fernández, involving leaked text messages in an embezzlement case.
He was accused in this case of irregularities in awarding state insurance contracts, allegations he denies.
The leaked messages include exchanges between Yáñez and Fernández’s former private secretary, María Cantero, describing incidents of abuse and harassment during Yáñez’s pregnancy with her two-year-old son.
Initially, Yáñez declined to pursue criminal proceedings when contacted by Judge Ercolini in June. She has since decided to press charges against Fernández.
Her lawyer has not commented on the case.
During Fernández’s presidency, Argentina faced economic challenges, including high inflation and poverty rates.
Public dissatisfaction with the country’s economic situation contributed to the election of Javier Milei as president in 2023, with Fernández choosing not to run for re-election.