MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Milei's government seeks to close a political crisis after cabinet chief Adorni resigns

The scandal began in March, when it emerged that Adorni's wife had been part of the official delegation that traveled with Milei to the United States

The resignation of Manuel Adorni as cabinet chief of the Argentine government represents an attempt by President Javier Milei to close a political crisis that dominated the public agenda for more than four months, though analysts warn that the impact on the government's credibility will persist as the judicial investigation into the former official's alleged illicit enrichment advances. Adorni, who denies any act of corruption, submitted his resignation on Saturday in a letter released on the social network X.

The scandal began in March, when it emerged that Adorni's wife had been part of the official delegation that traveled with Milei to the United States. That episode did not lead to criminal consequences, but complaints later arose over the growth of his assets, prompting a case, led by prosecutor Gerardo Pollicita, focused on real-estate purchases, trips and renovations, to determine whether they matched his declared income. In early June, Adorni admitted to having failed to declare some $500,000, which he attributed to prior investments, deepening the questioning. The investigation, which has yet to be resolved, also reaches his brother.

For months, Milei publicly stood by one of his closest collaborators, despite growing pressure from governing-bloc figures and allies. On Friday, from Spain, the president said he would only remove his cabinet chief if the courts certified his guilt, but the outcome came hours later. In his resignation letter, Adorni offered no self-criticism: he attributed his departure to “endless media attacks” and said he was stepping down to protect his family. According to official sources cited by the Argentine press, the post would go to the current Interior Minister, Diego Santilli, though the appointment was not made official.

The analysts consulted agreed that the departure may help the government regain political initiative. For Cristian Buttié, of CB Global Data, the governing bloc “is trying to finally close this chapter and recover the agenda,” after the case became “a Chinese box” in which each revelation opened new offshoots. Gustavo Marangoni, of M&R Asociados, considered that the change may give the government more room to rebuild parliamentary negotiations, since the cost was also felt among its allies.

The episode left a mark on the government's image. According to the consultancy Management & Fit, approval of the administration fell from 47 points in February to between 36 and 37 in the latest survey, and seven out of ten respondents said the case affected their trust in the government. However, its executive director, Lara Goyburu, warned that the deterioration does not necessarily imply irreversible electoral damage: “If the economy holds up, corruption cases do not always translate directly at the ballot box.” The governing bloc had already won the October 2025 midterms despite an earlier scandal. Analysts agree that the definitive closure will depend on the progress of the court cases and on no new revelations emerging.