Libertarian Congresswoman Rocío Bonacci issued a statement following her visit with five other libertarian legislators to the Ezeiza prison, where they met with repressors from the last military dictatorship. She claimed that the crimes committed by the military occurred within the context of a war and distanced herself from Beltrán Benedit, who organized the meeting and is also in her bloc.
Alfredo Astiz, Ricardo Cavallo, and Raúl Guglielminetti, some of those convicted of crimes against humanity, were among those who met with members of the La Libertad Avanza bloc. Along with Bonacci and Benedit, legislators Lourdes Arrieta, Alida Ferreyra, Guillermo Montenegro, and María Fernanda Araujo were also present.
The incident sparked outrage among their parliamentary colleagues, with both Unión por la Patria and a faction of the Unión Cívica Radical (UCR) demanding explanations. The legislators explained that the visit aimed to “observe the living conditions” of the detainees.
This doesn’t sit well with the authoritarians.
Professional and critical journalism is a fundamental pillar of democracy. That’s why it bothers those who believe they hold the absolute truth.
Tweet from Rocío Bonacci, La Libertad Avanza Congresswoman, about visiting repressors:
Following the uproar, Bonacci implied she had been deceived into going to Ezeiza, stating that no one had specified the reason for the meeting. On social media, she clarified: “I want to make it clear that I do not agree with the political position expressed by Beltrán Benedit regarding crimes against humanity mentioned after the visit. His position does not align with the reasons for the meeting and thus misled the bloc’s stance, which did not advise against the visit.”
Criticizing Benedit, whom she blamed for the omission, she stated that it is impossible “to work cohesively without unity of conception and action.” In the same post, she reiterated her stance on state terrorism, aligning with Vice-President Victoria Villarruel’s view that the violence in the late ’70s occurred within the context of a confrontation. “Citizens, whether convicted of common crimes or crimes against humanity, have rights but also responsibilities for their actions. Justice has ruled or is in the process of ruling. They have the right to be heard. Yes. A right their victims did not have. There was a war. Yes… in Tucumán. But the 1976-1983 civic-military process did not play fair! And for their mistakes, they must be held accountable!” she emphasized.
Who is Beltrán Benedit, the libertarian congressman who organized the visit to the detained repressors
In conclusion, Bonacci remarked: “Not the Armed Forces, but those who exceeded their duty under orders. I will always respect the Constitution and the Law. I am immensely grateful for the cordial treatment and respect shown to me.”
Scandal over the visit of libertarian congressmen to repressors from the last military dictatorship:
After news of the visit broke, Beltrán Benedit himself clarified the meeting’s purpose. “We did not go to visit repressors. Repression falls under the duties of the security forces; we went to meet former combatants who fought against Marxist subversion under a constitutional government’s orders,” he stated. He also emphasized that he organized the visit and asserted that “human rights are not upheld” for repressors.
“The rulings violate laws and treaties, while there are no imprisoned terrorists and there are Malvinas heroes. The charges have not been proven, they have no final convictions, and in many cases are fabricated,” claimed the libertarian.
The arguments of the Milei-aligned congressmen who visited genocides in prison:
As a result, Unión por la Patria sought the expulsion of the six congressmen. “We cannot allow popularly-elected legislators, regardless of their party, to visit those who attacked the democratic system,” said Gisela Marziotta, the initiative’s proponent.
When questioned about the incident during a press conference, spokesperson Manuel Adorni commented: “It is a personal agenda of the congressmen. They neither represent the entirety of the bloc nor belong to the Executive Power.”
