20/06/2026 15:05 - Politica
Escena política tensa en un acto oficial en Argentina con funcionarios divididos en dos grupos, palco presidencial con banderas argentinas y monumento histórico de fondo
The temperature hovered around 3°C (37°F) in Rosario when President Javier Milei arrived at the National Flag Monument for the June 20 ceremony. But the real freeze was political: Milei greeted his entire cabinet while systematically avoiding any contact with Vice President Victoria Villarruel—their first public encounter in over a year outside of congressional sessions.
The image spoke volumes: during the national anthem, Villarruel stood with her back to the stage where Milei stood, facing the newly raised flag. Libertarian Congresswoman Juliana Santillán called it "childish," while Villarruel responded with irony: "It seems difficult to greet a vice president in a democracy".
"This is a patriotic ceremony, not an event to support Adorni. No one is more at odds with Belgrano's values than him." She added: "It's a terrible message—no greeting, no invitation, just segregation."
"He was rich and died poor at age 50, having given everything for his Homeland." The president declared Belgrano "Argentina's first economic liberal intellectual" while Adorni listened from the front row.
Manuel Adorni, the Chief of Staff under fire for his wealth that allegedly grew from $20 million to $944 million in a short period, traveled to Rosario alongside Milei in a show of presidential support. Former libertarian ally Congresswoman Marcela Pagano delivered one of the harshest critiques:
Marcela Pagano on X
"In 1813, Belgrano gave up a fortune to build schools. He died poor, unable to afford a doctor, but left schools. In 2026, a government swearing 'there's no money' doubled travel expenses for Karina Milei's department. Belgrano left schools. These will leave bills and debts."
Buenos Aires Mayor Jorge Macri also weighed in: "This issue is complicating the government even when explaining things that are going well". The censure motion against Adorni now has 120 of the 129 required signatures in the Senate, with interpellation rescheduled for June 25, 2026.
Manuel Belgrano (1770-1820) is one of Argentina's founding fathers. He created the Argentine flag (celeste y blanca—light blue and white) on February 27, 1812, during Argentina's war of independence from Spain. Flag Day (Día de la Bandera) is celebrated annually on June 20, the anniversary of his death.
Rosario, located in Santa Fe province about 300 km northwest of Buenos Aires, is Argentina's third-largest city and home to the National Flag Monument—the site of these ceremonies.
The ceremony's organization revealed the government's internal rift. While Milei, Governor Maximiliano Pullaro, and Mayor Pablo Javkin occupied the front rows, Villarruel was placed with Santa Fe officials—clearly separated from the national cabinet. Lilia Lemoine, a Milei loyalist, didn't hide her stance: "No way I'm greeting her", she said when asked about Villarruel.
| Location | Officials |
|---|---|
| Main Stage | Javier Milei, Maximiliano Pullaro, Pablo Javkin |
| Right Section | National Cabinet (Caputo, Sturzenegger, Monteoliva, Pettovello, Adorni) |
| Left Section | Victoria Villarruel and Santa Fe officials |
Karina Milei (the president's sister and Secretary-General) arranged a unity photo with the entire cabinet supporting Adorni, but Villarruel was deliberately excluded. This distance dates back months—Villarruel was already absent from the May 25, 2025 Te Deum ceremony.
While national politics showed its fractures, Santa Fe Governor Maximiliano Pullaro focused on local achievements. With striking numbers, he announced that homicides in Rosario dropped 65% since 2024, with drive-by shootings also declining significantly.
65%
Homicide Reduction
1,840
Public Works Underway
$4B+
Monument Investment
"Today in Rosario, the law rules and fear has changed sides", Pullaro declared, thanking the national government for security cooperation, particularly former Minister Patricia Bullrich and current Minister Alejandra Monteoliva. The governor also demanded more federal infrastructure: "Santa Fe produces and exports. We need resources to return as infrastructure to power the productive interior".
Mayor Pablo Javkin also used the platform to celebrate Rosario's transformation: "Fear changed sides and changed forever", he told the crowd filling the monument grounds.
"We turned the tide against the bad guys. Today we receive him with a Rosario standing tall before our monument", Javkin added, highlighting more than 60 paving, drainage, and public space projects across city neighborhoods. He closed: "We are a city of over a million good people who, with courage, threw out that handful of mafia scum and made clear they will never return".
While Milei led the official ceremony, the State Workers Association (ATE) staged a parallel protest in Plaza Pringles, declaring the president "persona non grata in Rosario". "The president is not welcome in Rosario or Santa Fe. He is persona non grata because his policies harm all Argentines", declared Rodolfo Aguiar, ATE National Secretary-General. Culture Secretary Leonardo Cifelli responded on X: "This patriotic symbol represents freedom, history, and the values that unite us as Argentines".
June 20, 2026 marks the 206th anniversary of Manuel Belgrano's death (June 20, 1820). The founding father, creator of Argentina's flag, donated his fortune to build schools and died impoverished at age 50. Milei reclaimed him as "Argentina's first economic liberal intellectual"—a concept sparking debate among historians. The National Flag Monument was reinaugurated after over $4 billion in investments.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
