Argentina may have to step back from its persistent claims over the Falklands (pictured) to consider what to do now that its vice president has been charged with corruption.
Amado Boudou, 51, has been charged with bribery, the first vice president of Argentina to face criminal charges.
The charges related to his alleged acquisition of the company that prints Argentina’s currency, the peso, and later of benefitting from government contracts.
He stands accused to using shell companies and secret middlemen to acquire control of the Ciccone Calcografica printing company.
That company went bankrupt in July 2010 and another, The Old Fund, gained control of it. The wife of The Old Fund’s owner claimed that her husband was the vice president’s front man for business they conduct together.
But both men deny knowing each other. Yet the family owners of Ciccone say that the vice president was personally involved in the negotiations which persuaded them to sell 70% of the business to The Old Fund.
Mr Boudin’s star has faded dramatically with Argentines and he has plummeted to being the country’s least popular politician. Opponents are threatening to impeach him.
Such criticism has extended to President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner who has been loyal to Mr Boudin.
His predicament has left the government without a clear presidential successor for the 2015 elections.
Mr Boudin says he is confident he can prove his innocence.
He will remain free until the trial opens, and could face six years in prison if found guilty.
