{"id":318291,"date":"2024-09-07T16:55:01","date_gmt":"2024-09-07T21:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.liveaction.org\/news\/?p=318291"},"modified":"2024-09-09T13:42:18","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T18:42:18","slug":"argentina-ex-president-accused-forcing-wife-abortion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.liveaction.org\/news\/argentina-ex-president-accused-forcing-wife-abortion\/","title":{"rendered":"Argentina’s ex-president, a pro-abortion ‘champion,’ accused of coercing wife to have abortion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The ex-wife of Alberto Fern\u00e1ndez, the former president of Argentina, has accused him of abuse, including coercing her to have an abortion.<\/p>\n

Fabiola Y\u00e1\u00f1ez, Argentina’s former first lady, testified<\/a> for four hours from Madrid in the gender violence case brought against Fern\u00e1ndez. According to prosecutors<\/a>, Fern\u00e1ndez is guilty of causing \u201cgrievous bodily harm\u201d to Y\u00e1\u00f1ez, and making \u201ccoercive threats\u201d against her.<\/p>\n

Y\u00e1\u00f1ez claims that while living in the presidential residence near Buenos Aires, Fern\u00e1ndez allegedly subjected her to psychological abuse, and physically assaulted her numerous times. “We had argued before, a lot, as was usual, and as a closing of the argument, he hit me from his side of the bed with a terrible blow from the fist,” she said in a written statement. Photographs introduced in the trial showed Y\u00e1\u00f1ez with a black eye.<\/p>\n

Y\u00e1\u00f1ez also said Fern\u00e1ndez forced her to have an abortion in 2016, while it was still illegal. She described this as “reproductive violence.”<\/p>\n

Fern\u00e1ndez denies all of Y\u00e1\u00f1ez’ claims. \u201cI am being accused of something I have not done. I have not hit Fabiola. I have never hit a woman,” he said. \u201cFor four years I was president of this country and I promoted gender policies and I know that in cases like this the burden of proof is reversed and the man is presumed guilty and has to prove his innocence. I am going to prove it. What I’m going to do is wait, go to the justice system and let the justice system resolve it.”<\/p>\n

While president, Fern\u00e1ndez vowed<\/a> to legalize abortion by 2020, despite the fact that much of Argentina is pro-life. The senate complied, voting to legalize abortion<\/a> for any reason through 14 weeks gestation. By 14 weeks<\/a>, preborn children are already well-developed, and can likely feel pain.<\/p>\n