Argentina’s cabinet chief has stepped down following allegations of corruption
Manuel Adorni, the cabinet chief of Argentine President Javier Milei, resigned on Saturday amid a scandal that has prompted investigations into his expenditures over the past few years.
Adorni, appointed cabinet chief in November of last year, is a close confidant of Milei, who initially designated him as his spokesperson shortly after taking office in late 2023.
For the first time since December 10, 2023, I am going against your wishes,” Adorni stated in his resignation letter to Milei, which he shared on X. I am concluding this chapter. I depart with a sense of peace and tranquility, but most importantly, with a clear conscience.
Adorni has faced allegations of illicit enrichment stemming from expenses that seem inconsistent with his reported income.
He has faced criticism for several personal trips taken with his family, including a first-class holiday to Aruba over the Christmas period and a private jet flight to Uruguay during Carnival season.
Adorni claims to have amassed his wealth before assuming his government position, asserting that private funds financed all family trips. “I haven’t committed any crime, and I will demonstrate that in court,” he remarked before Congress in late April during his address on the state of the country.
In an interview with the newspaper La Nacion this month, he admitted to having saved undeclared money for years, stating, “Like all Argentines. He stated that he had amended declarations from 2023 and 2024 to account for approximately half a million dollars that had previously gone undeclared. “I take responsibility for this unintentional error, and I will pay all that is owed,” he remarked.
Milei has previously defended Adorni, stating to La Nacion in May that “there’s no way Adorni will leave” and that “I’m not going to execute an innocent person.
Recently, Milei has started to confront the repercussions of accusations regarding corruption within his government, alongside a purchasing power that has lagged behind inflation. As per a May poll conducted by Opina Argentina, 39% of voters hold a favorable view of Milei, whose approval rating has increased by 53% compared to the previous year.
