Argentina: Defense seeks acquittal for De Vido and López in Sueños Compartidos case

Defense attorneys for former officials Julio De Vido and José López have presented their closing arguments in the ‘Sueños Compartidos’ case, seeking dismissal or acquittal for their clients.

In the case against former Planning Minister Julio De Vido, the defense requested the statute of limitations be applied and for the case to be dismissed, arguing that the legal timeframe expired in July 2020. They further argued that the prosecution failed to prove De Vido's responsibility, claiming no witnesses implicated him and questioning the validity of key expert documents. The defense maintained that De Vido had no direct involvement in the adjudication of works and that his relationship with the Madres de Plaza de Mayo Foundation was strictly protocol-based.

Simultaneously, the defense for former Secretary of Public Works José López, along with Pablo Schoklender and Carlos Castellano, requested acquittal. Lawyers argued that López acted within his legitimate functions, merely signing administrative acts to validate existing agreements. They contended that multiple layers of control existed and that López did not influence payments or direct provinces to use the program. The defense also cited López's age, health, and mental health status as mitigating factors, while challenging the prosecution's request for a six-year prison sentence.