MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Macri's assets in a blind trust; the elected president reiterates pledge to combat corruption

“I will try to set up an instrument, a trust fund so that I can distance myself from all of it” Macri said.

Argentine President-elect Mauricio Macri said in a television interview that he would place his assets in a blind trust after being sworn in on Dec. 10. Macri also reiterated his commitment to combat corruption and said he would turn any official suspected of corruption over to judicial authorities.

 “I am looking for an instrument to provide the most transparency for my asset situation to prove for real that during my term as president I will not make decisions connected to my personal assets,” Macri, of the conservative Cambiemos alliance, told America TV.

“I will try to set up an instrument, a trust fund so that I can distance myself from all of it,” Macri said.

A blind trust, which places investment assets in the hands of an independent administrator and prevents the owner from intervening in the management of the funds, is an instrument that has been used by several U.S. presidents.

Macri, a member of Argentina's business elite, disclosed assets valued at 52 million pesos ($5.3 million) in his latest sworn statement before the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The president-elect said he would be strict with his government team and would turn any official suspected of corruption over to judicial authorities.

“Anyone who touches a peso that does not belong to him will have, first of all, a problem with me. This is a non-negotiable issue,” Macri said.

The 56-year-old Macri will succeed President Cristina Fernandez after defeating governing party candidate Daniel Scioli in a run-off election on Nov. 22.