Following several scandals and problems during his administration, the popularity of Javier Milei’s libertarian government has plummeted. The British newspaper Financial Times published a poll showing that 63% of Argentines disapprove of the far-right leader’s performance.
Argentina is currently in the midst of a prolonged economic crisis that shows no signs of ending. The libertarian government had promised that reducing the deficit and slowing the depreciation of the Argentine peso against the dollar, along with a radical downsizing of the state, would lead to rapid economic improvement.
Yet, evidently, Milei’s orthodox neoliberal policies have plunged the Argentine market into further crisis. Consumption has dropped significantly due to inflationary pressures to which the government has not been able to resolve. In Argentina, one of the world’s leading producers of beef, people have begun eating donkey meat on a massive scale due to the high price of beef, a development that has caused consternation throughout the region.
Chief of staff scrutinized over luxury home renovations
Added to this crisis in everyday life are the corruption scandals that have tarnished Milei’s administration. Milei’s chief of staff, Manuel Adorni, has dominated the headlines of major media outlets, facing allegations of illicit enrichment.
In one of the many allegations, Matías Tabar, an Argentine contractor, told the federal prosecutor handling the case that Adorni had paid him nearly USD 250,000 to carry out renovations on a home located in an exclusive neighborhood west of Buenos Aires.
According to Tabar, the renovations reportedly included a luxury marble swimming pool featuring a waterfall, as well as work on floors, walls, and bathrooms. Adorni allegedly paid for the entire project in cash without providing a receipt in exchange, which has raised many questions, such as how Adorni came to have USD 250,000 to build a luxurious waterfall and pool, and why there is no tax document to support this.
Furthermore, the case filed against Adorni states that the property where the controversial waterfall was built was reportedly purchased by the official in 2024 for approximately USD 120,000.
Lavish trips and exorbitant expenses
Additionally, it has been reported that Adorni’s wife traveled to New York on the presidential plane on an alleged official mission, even though she is not a member of the cabinet. At the time, Adorni apologized for this incident: “It was a bad decision, a terrible decision. Even though it didn’t cost the government a single dollar, I didn’t realize the mistake, and for that I apologize.”
The judicial investigation currently being prepared is also reportedly taking into account a series of expenses that do not correspond to the salary of a chief of staff.
Adorni has denied all the allegations, while Milei has stated that he fully supports his chief of staff and is confident that the allegations are false. The president accompanied his chief of staff to Congress, where Adorni again denied the allegations in response to questions from senators.
Among them is Representative Marcela Pagano, who has called for the chief of staff’s arrest on charges of alleged illicit enrichment. Furthermore, Pagano alleged that Adorni attempted to influence contractor Tabar before he gave his statement, which is a crime. Adorni has also denied these accusations.
Scandals and economic turmoil deepen Milei’s popularity crisis
In addition to the accusations against Adorni, Milei has also faced criticisms due to his involvement in the Hondurasgate scandal. According to the leaked recordings, Milei contributed USD 350,000 to the plot to spring convicted drug trafficker and former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández from US detention and support his efforts to wage disinformation campaigns against the Left in the region.
Read more: Hondurasgate: leaked audio links Asfura, Hernández, Trump, Milei, Netanyahu in anti-left plot
Thus, Milei’s popularity is falling in the face of a reality where people do not have enough money to buy meat, while the chief of staff is accused of paying a quarter of a million dollars to build a luxury pool with a waterfall. These are two realities so starkly different that, if confirmed, they could anger even President Milei’s most ardent supporter.
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