Buenos Aires City Mayor, Mauricio Macri.
Buenos Aires City Mayor Mauricio Macri came on stage today after Judge Norberto Oyarbide decided to send him to trial over the illegal wiretapping probe.
He accused President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of encouraging Oyarbide’s decision, adding however he would be happy to stand trial, “so that people can understand that this is all a politically-driven stunt propelled by the Kirchnerites.”
During a press conference, the city mayor said “it’s more of the same. I am sorry that the President feels this is the only way for the government to manage itself with the opposition.”
“In the last press conference, I announced that within this grand scheme of trapping, obstructing and wanting to bring down the City, they are again starting to use judges,” Macri continued. “No one let me know about anything,” he furthered.
Earlier on today, Macri said he was “not surprised” Federal Judge Norberto Oyarbide ordered him and former city police chief Jorge Palacios, along with other involved officials, to stand trial over illegal wiretapping allegations.
“I am not surprised, I told you the same last week,” Macri told reporters as he entered his administration’s Wednesday Cabinet meeting this morning.
Macri is accused of illicit association and of abuse of authority after using phone bugs to spy on national government officials, unionists, social leaders, politians and family members.
Today, Oyarbide deemed the probe to be completed, after almost two full years of investigation into the main parties over alleged phone tapping. Macri was officially indicted in May of 2010. Judicial sources still have not confirmed the decision.
buenosairesherald.com