27/06/2026 03:35 - Politica
Former Argentine President Mauricio Macri made a powerful announcement during an event in Mar del Plata: the PRO party will vote to impeach Manuel Adorni in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. This decision marks a turning point in the relationship between the center-right PRO party and President Javier Milei's administration.
Macri strongly criticized appointments based on "blind loyalty" and declared that "no one is more important than change," referring to the controversial Chief of Cabinet. The PRO leader argued that keeping questioned officials "destroys the trust" essential for the political project.
Manuel Adorni, Chief of Cabinet and former presidential spokesperson, is under investigation for an extraordinary 775% increase in personal wealth. According to reports, his assets grew from approximately $20 million pesos to $944 million pesos.
Adorni publicly acknowledged on June 10, 2026 having undeclared savings of about USD 500,000 in cryptocurrencies since 2013, as a partial explanation for his wealth accumulation.
Esteban Bullrich, a prominent PRO figure, resigned from the party over this case, considering the party's position insufficient given the scandal's severity.
Meanwhile, Javier Milei maintains he will keep Adorni "until Justice decides" and defended the explanation about the origin of his cryptocurrency funds.
Prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita is investigating the source of Adorni's wealth, including purchases made with official credit cards and alleged renovations at a country house totaling USD 245,929 in cash.
The impeachment session scheduled for June 25, 2026 failed due to lack of quorum: only 117 deputies were present out of the 129 required. The Constitutional Affairs Committee will address the impeachment motions starting June 30, 2026.
In a significant change, Adrián Ravier assumed as the new presidential spokesperson on June 26, 2026, replacing Adorni in that communications role. His first press conference is scheduled for June 30, 2026.
Behind the scenes, Karina Milei (the President's sister and key advisor), Santiago Caputo, and the Menem brothers are negotiating cabinet changes, with Diego Santilli emerging as a potential replacement for Adorni as Chief of Cabinet if the situation becomes untenable.
The administration dismisses the accusations as a "Peronist operation" and maintains there are insufficient grounds to remove Adorni before a definitive judicial ruling. Milei, speaking from Madrid, reaffirmed he would only remove Adorni if Justice finds him guilty of illicit enrichment.
This case highlights the delicate balance in Argentina's ruling coalition, where PRO's ethical standards clash with Milei's loyalty-based governance approach.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
