ARGENTINA’S former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner vowed to return to politics as she began serving a six-year sentence under house arrest on Wednesday.

“We will return, and, what’s more, we will return with more wisdom, with more unity, with more strength,” Ms Fernandez, 72, said in a speech recorded from her home and broadcasted to tens of thousands of her supporters rallying in the streets of the capital Buenos Aires.

The case in which she was first convicted in 2022 found that she had defrauded the state in awarding contracts for public works to a friendly businessman.

She vehemently denies the charges, accusing her opponents of weaponising the justice system against her.

Before the court banned her from public office permanently earlier this month, she had been planning to run for a seat in the Buenos Aires provincial legislature.

“The real economic powers know this model has no future; they know it’s collapsing, and that’s why I’m in prison,” she said in her speech.

The scene of huge crowds setting off flares and chanting “We will return” underscored the sharp divisions in this South American nation that has long been shaped by Ms Fernandez, who vastly increased welfare and public employment during her tenure.

She served one term as Argentina’s first lady (2004-2007), two terms as its president (2007-2015) and one term as its powerful vice-president (2019–2023), dominating the country’s politics for the last two decades.

“We are all here to fight for Cristina’s freedom. If they restrict her more, we will do more,” said Gloria Araya, 64, a pensioner protesting on Wednesday.