21/06/2026 21:59 - Politica
Mauricio Macri en un acto político en Mar del Plata con el mar de fondo, banderas argentinas y simpatizantes del PRO, día soleado, ambiente de campaña política.
To grasp what's happening, you need to understand the players. Mauricio Macri served as Argentina's president from 2015 to 2019, representing the center-right PRO party (Propuesta Republicana). He's now the behind-the-scenes leader of the opposition, trying to keep his coalition relevant amid the rise of Javier Milei, the libertarian economist who won the presidency in 2023 with his party La Libertad Avanza.
Mar del Plata is Argentina's most important seaside city, located about 400 km south of Buenos Aires. With over 600,000 inhabitants, it's a political battleground in Buenos Aires Province, the country's largest voting district.
The current drama involves Ignacio "Nacho" Torres, the 39-year-old governor of Chubut (a Patagonian province), who visited Mar del Plata this week for the launch of the vessel "San Severo" at the Contessi shipyard. His presence wasn't coincidental: he met with provincial senator Guillermo Montenegro and positioned himself as an alternative national figure.
The immediate trigger for the PRO-Milei tension is a scandal involving Manuel Adorni, who served as presidential spokesperson until recently. Here's what you need to know:
A motion to censure Adorni has gathered 120 out of 129 signatures in Argentina's Congress. The controversy centers on his declared assets, which allegedly grew from $20 million pesos to $944 million pesos between 2023 and 2025—a 775% increase that raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.
Following approximately six hours of meetings at the Olivos presidential residence, Milei appointed Adrián Ravier as the new presidential spokesperson. While this marked a shift in official communications, it didn't calm the waters with the PRO.
Mar del Plata's current mayor inherited a financially strained administration and a legislative majority more fragile than it appeared. His approach combines continuity and differentiation: maintaining the policies of his predecessor Montenegro while adopting a more hands-on, neighborhood-focused style.
| Area | Actions Taken | Challenges |
|---|---|---|
| Security | Patrol vehicles, municipal patrol units, motorcycle squads | Rising homeless population |
| Infrastructure | Express pothole repair, cold asphalt, LED street lighting | No major national infrastructure projects |
| Politics | Building a manager profile, neighborhood proximity | Balancing allies already thinking about 2027 elections |
Neme's administration maintains its primary confrontation axis against Axel Kicillof, the Peronist governor of Buenos Aires Province. The dispute over the VTV (vehicle inspection program), claims for Punta Mogotes (a beach area), and accusations of discriminatory resource distribution form part of a narrative that keeps the local alliance cohesive.
The municipality firmly demands the return of Punta Mogotes, but doesn't question the national government's move to privatize the Chapadmalal tourist complex. It criticizes the lack of provincial funds but avoids confronting Milei over frozen public works or unfulfilled education funding agreements. This is a deliberate political calculation.
Torres came to position himself as part of what's coming. Macri is coming to show he's still relevant. And between both visits hangs a question: Who will occupy center stage when Milei's honeymoon period ends?
Source: La Capital de Mar del Plata
Alfredo S. Quiroga
