26/06/2026 21:27 - Politica
In a significant political development that highlights growing tensions within Argentina's ruling coalition, former President Mauricio Macri took a decisive stance during his "Next Step" tour in Mar del Plata on Thursday, June 26, 2026. The leader of the PRO party announced that his legislators will vote in favor of interpellating Manuel Adorni, the current Cabinet Chief, in both chambers of Congress.
Mauricio Macri served as President of Argentina from 2015 to 2019 and leads the PRO (Propuesta Republicana), a center-right party. Javier Milei is the current President since December 2023. An interpellation is a formal legislative procedure to summon government officials for questioning about their actions or potential misconduct.
The controversy centers on allegations of illicit enrichment against Adorni, which the government has dismissed as a "Peronist operation"—referring to Argentina's largest opposition movement, Peronism. However, Macri, whose party has been allied with Milei's administration, drew a clear ethical line in his speech.
Macri criticized appointments based on what he called "blind loyalty" rather than merit, stating: "I said that people for positions of such importance must arrive through their track record, not through blind loyalty." He argued that keeping Adorni in office "destroys the trust that enables change" and creates damaging political noise.
"No one is more important than change. We need not lose energy on things we shouldn't waste a moment on. Hopefully it won't be necessary and we won't lose more time or energy on this."
Macri's announcement follows the resignation of Esteban Bullrich from the PRO on June 25, 2026. Bullrich, a prominent figure in the party, had criticized the political protection extended to Adorni. As reported by Infobae, Macri clarified that while the PRO maintains its support for the government's economic direction, it cannot compromise on ethical standards.
This situation complicates the legislative arithmetic for President Milei's administration. The ruling coalition lacks its own majority in Congress and relies on allied parties like the PRO to pass legislation—something that proved successful with the recent "Super RIGI" (a large-scale investment incentive regime).
The public rift confirms a notable cooling in the relationship between Macri and Milei, which had previously included shared dinners and public displays of collaboration. As Adrián Ravier assumes the role of presidential spokesperson to help manage the political fallout, the PRO appears to be positioning itself to capitalize on any government wear and tear ahead of the 2027 elections.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
