**Four South‑American presidents deny ties to Argentine political consultant Fernando Cerimedo**
*After the Argentine consultant was placed under preventive detention in Bolivia on charges of attempted femicide and illicit enrichment, several presidents who had been linked to him in campaign activities have publicly denied any personal, professional or institutional relationship with him.*
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### Background
Fernando Cerimedo, an Argentine political consultant, was detained in Bolivia on 3 September 2023. Prosecutors allege that he was involved in an attempted femicide and that he benefited from illicit enrichment. Cerimedo has been linked to the political campaigns of several leaders in the region.
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### Statements from the presidents
| President | Country | Statement |
|———–|———|———–|
| **Rodrigo Paz** | Bolivia | “We won the elections and, from that point on, he not only cooperated in that election but also at the beginning of the government,” Paz said. He added that while he worked with Cerimedo during his campaign, there was no direct employment relationship. “There was never a contract, never a direct working relationship as one would have with ministers, vice‑ministers or presidential delegates,” he explained. |
| **Keiko Fujimori** | Peru | Fujimori said, “I have no personal or professional relationship with Cerimedo. I have no communication with him and I do not know the reasons for his visit.” She noted that Cerimedo was in Lima on 27 and 28 July, the days of her inauguration. |
| **Javier Milei** | Argentina | Milei stated that he had no ties to Cerimedo and that the Argentine president had “ceased to be linked to him in 2023.” He added that political relationships can change over time. |
| **José Antonio Kast** | Chile | Kast denied having worked with Cerimedo, saying, “In none of my campaigns have I worked with this man. The government does not employ or consult him.” He acknowledged that he knows Cerimedo but said they had only met in public settings with other political figures. |
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### Evidence and allegations
* **Bolivia** – Photos and chat transcripts that link President Paz to Cerimedo have surfaced, showing interactions up to July 2023. Some audio recordings allegedly suggest that Cerimedo was involved in the state of emergency.
* **Peru** – Reports indicate that Cerimedo met with a member of Fujimori’s campaign team, and photographs of the two together have been circulated.
* **Argentina** – Records show that Cerimedo visited the Casa Rosada after 2023, although Milei maintains that no formal relationship exists.
* **Chile** – No documented evidence of a working relationship between Kast and Cerimedo has been presented.
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### Current status
Cerimedo remains under preventive detention in Bolivia. The presidents’ statements have been made publicly in interviews and press releases. No formal investigations have yet linked any of the presidents to the alleged crimes. The matter continues to be monitored by Bolivian authorities and international observers.
Article and image source: opinion.com.bo
