01/07/2026 09:39 - Politica
President Javier Milei marked a significant shift in his administration with the swearing-in of Diego Santilli as the new Cabinet Chief of Ministers. The ceremony, held on June 30, 2026 at 5:30 PM in the White Hall of the Casa Rosada (Argentina's presidential palace), was attended by 14 allied governors, sending a clear signal of political consensus-building that contrasts with the confrontational style that characterized the previous management.
Manuel Adorni resigned on June 27, 2026 following a scandal involving a 775% increase in his personal wealth, rising from 20 million pesos to 944 million pesos (approximately from USD 20,000 to USD 944,000 at official rates). The decision came after three months of mounting tension that damaged the government's image.
According to data from analyst Alejandro Catterberg, Adorni caused a loss of 10 percentage points in approval among Milei's voters and 20 points among PRO voters who supported the president in the runoff election. A phrase attributed to someone close to Karina Milei summarized the problem: "For a month I haven't been able to go to La Rioja. Because every time I go, everyone only asks me about Adorni."
Javier Milei is an economist and politician who won Argentina's presidency in 2023 with a libertarian platform. His sister, Karina Milei, serves as a key political advisor. The PRO (Republican Proposal) is a center-right party led by figures like former President Mauricio Macri and Patricia Bullrich, which formed an alliance with Milei's party La Libertad Avanza (Freedom Advances).
Argentina has 23 provinces plus the autonomous city of Buenos Aires. The presence of 14 governors shows strong regional support.
Note: Maximiliano Pullaro (Santa Fe) did not attend due to a provincial cabinet meeting.
Political analyst Diego Sehinkman described the change as a dose of "Realpolitik". Santilli, 59, with a political career dating back to 1999, brings social and negotiation skills that the government urgently needed. He served as Deputy Mayor of Buenos Aires City from 2015 to 2021, and as Interior Minister since November 2025.
The new spokesperson Adrián Ravier has already expressed a different stance toward journalism: "We shouldn't attack journalism. It's a valuable activity." This statement contrasts sharply with the confrontational approach of the previous team.
Argentina operates as a federal presidential republic. The Cabinet Chief (Jefe de Gabinete) is a powerful position that coordinates all ministries and serves as a bridge between the executive branch and Congress. The PASO (Primarias Abiertas, Simultáneas y Obligatorias) are mandatory open primaries where parties select candidates for general elections, a system Milei aims to eliminate.
One focal point is the relationship with Patricia Bullrich, leader of La Libertad Avanza's Senate bloc. According to the newspaper La Nación, Karina Milei created a new WhatsApp group with libertarian senators, administered by her, parallel to the one Bullrich already managed.
This move reflects the president's sister's intention to have direct control over parliamentary negotiations without depending on intermediaries. The situation reveals the complexity of the ruling coalition's internal alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political Reform
The government seeks to abolish PASO primaries, generating resistance from the opposition and requiring negotiations with governors.
Ley de Lemas
A controversial provincial system that allows parties to present multiple candidates. The government may tolerate it in exchange for support to eliminate PASO.
PRO's Position: Deputy Jesús Ritondo indicated that PRO exists to "shield the change", though they may present their own candidates in 2027, giving priority to Milei in the center-right space.
The government needs to show tangible economic results. The EMAE (Monthly Economic Activity Estimator, similar to GDP monthly indicator) registered a 1.5% drop, in an up-and-down pattern that concerns the ruling party. However, Argentina's Central Bank accumulated purchases of USD 11 billion in 2026, and international reserves reach USD 47.081 billion.
The accumulated trade surplus between January and May 2026 reached USD 11.783 billion, a record the government seeks to capitalize on politically.
Adorni's departure and Santilli's arrival represent a tacit recognition that the government cannot advance alone. As the TN analysis noted: "The Milei siblings lose their political self-sufficiency. They begin to recognize that alone they cannot, that they will need people who don't come from them, and that they will have to do what costs them most. Trust."
Alfredo S. Quiroga
