Argentina's former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has requested to serve her six-year corruption sentence under house arrest, her lawyer confirmed, following the Supreme Court's decision to uphold her conviction and ban from public office.

"We are requesting the house arrest granted to people over 70," lawyer Carlos Beraldi stated, as quoted by AFP. Kirchner, who served as president from 2007 to 2015, leads the leftist populist Peronist movement founded by post-war leader Juan Perón and his wife, Eva.

The Supreme Court's ruling carries significant political implications, as Kirchner had announced plans to run for Buenos Aires Province legislative elections on September 7. A successful candidacy would have provided her with immunity during a four-year term, but the court's decision now prevents her from seeking office.

Kirchner was sentenced for fraudulent administration to the detriment of the state, with the Criminal Cassation Chamber upholding the ruling last year. The 27-page Supreme Court decision, obtained by EFE, stated that previous court sentences were based on "extensive evidence produced" and the Penal Code, finding no violations of constitutional guarantees during proceedings.

The case centres on allegations that 51 road construction contracts in Santa Cruz province were improperly awarded to firms linked to businessman Lazaro Baez during the presidencies of Cristina Kirchner and her late husband, Nestor Kirchner. Kirchner, a polarising figure in Argentina and long-time foe of current President Javier Milei, has denied wrongdoing, accusing the judiciary of using the case for political ends.

The timing of this ruling coincides with Milei's growing electoral momentum, buoyed by good progress on the economy and a five-year monthly inflation low in May, which hovered around 2% in May. Last month, his right-wing La Libertad Avanza party secured 30.13% of the vote in the Buenos Aires City Legislature elections, historically a Peronist stronghold, outperforming Kirchner's Justicialist Party. Milei subsequently announced an alliance with Mauricio Macri's liberal conservative PRO Party ahead of September's provincial legislative elections.

This development poses a significant challenge to the Peronist movement's political future. With the right and centre-right uniting behind Milei's expanding electoral success and now losing one of its most prominent figures, the leftist coalition faces an uncertain path forward as La Libertad Avanza seems to take charge of Argentina’s politics.