13/06/2026 15:04 - Politica
El Palacio del Congreso de la Nación Argentina en Buenos Aires con su característica cúpula verde y arquitectura monumental, vista desde la Plaza de los Dos Congresos con luz de atardecer, reflejando la tensión política del momento
The situation facing Manuel Adorni, Argentina's Chief of Cabinet (Jefe de Gabinete de Ministros—a role similar to a Prime Minister or White House Chief of Staff), has reached a critical boiling point. His public attempts to justify a sudden increase in his personal wealth were deemed insufficient by lawmakers, leading to accusations of further misconduct. His admission that he omitted USD 500,000 in Bitcoin investments from his mandatory asset declarations (declaraciones juradas) has triggered a decisive shift in the legislature, with multiple parliamentary blocs now pushing for a motion of censure to remove him from office.
For international readers, the motion of censure (moción de censura) is a powerful constitutional mechanism in Argentina under Article 101 of the National Constitution. It allows Congress to remove the Chief of Cabinet by an absolute majority vote. This is distinct from an interpellation, which merely summons the official to answer questions. A successful censure vote forces the official's immediate resignation.
Votes Required:
The request for a special session on June 24 has already gathered 120 signatures, leaving the opposition just nine votes short of the necessary quorum to proceed. The blocs supporting this move include:
To reach the required majority, the opposition needs votes from three blocs that previously supported the administration: PRO (12 seats), Innovación Federal (9 seats), and UCR (6 seats).
The PRO, the party led by former President Mauricio Macri, issued a statement calling Adorni's omissions "a serious fault": "A public official cannot tell citizens and Congress that they hid nothing, only to later admit they did. That has no possible justification."
Similarly, the UCR (Radical Civic Union) released a communiqué stating: "The declarations by Chief of Cabinet Manuel Adorni are incompatible with the exemplary conduct required for one of the highest institutional responsibilities of the Republic... He lied to Congress."
In the Upper House, Victoria Villarruel (the Vice President and Senate Speaker) has convened a session to interpellate Adorni. According to La Política Online, Villarruel informed Patricia Bullrich (current Security Minister and key political broker) that the session would proceed: "What Adorni did is untenable."
Senator José Mayans of the Peronist bloc presented a project to summon, interpellate, and censure Adorni. The opposition calculates it has 30 secure votes (including Peronists and allies), needing 7 more to reach the 37 required for removal. Negotiations are ongoing with provincial senators.
According to his sworn declaration, Adorni's net worth jumped from less than $20 million pesos upon entering the government to over $944 million pesos. He admitted to omitting USD 500,000 in Bitcoin investments made between 2013 and 2018.
Judge Ariel Lijo and Prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita are overseeing the judicial investigation. His wife, Bettina Angeletti, joined the fiscal innocence regime on May 31, 2026.
Senators are returning to Buenos Aires for the session scheduled after Argentina's national team match against Algeria. The Chamber of Deputies aims for the special session on June 24.
A source close to Macri stated: "We will wait to see the number of signatures the opposition gathers before making a final decision."
Sources: Infobae | La Política Online
Alfredo S. Quiroga
