Manuel Adorni, the cabinet chief and a prominent ally to Argentinian President Javier Milei, announced his resignation on Saturday. This decision arrives amidst a swirling corruption scandal that has significantly undermined the government’s foundational promise to eliminate graft from the administration. In his formal resignation letter addressed to President Milei, which he later shared on social media, Adorni wrote: “For the first time since December 10, 2023, I am going against your wishes,” referencing the day Milei officially assumed the presidency.
He further added, “Thank you for always trusting me and thank you for supporting me through this unjust, painful and exhausting process for my family and me.” The 46-year-old official finds himself embroiled in intense scrutiny regarding a lifestyle characterized by high spending, including various property purchases and lavish family vacations that appear to significantly exceed the income he receives from his official public service earnings.
For several weeks, Adorni insisted he had not engaged in any illicit activity. However, faced with mounting public and legal pressure, he admitted two weeks ago that he had hidden $500,000 in savings from national tax authorities. Despite this admission, he has continued to deny any wrongdoing, maintaining that the capital used for his investments and savings was acquired long before he began working in public service. In 2023, Adorni emerged as the primary face of Milei’s anti-corruption platform while serving as the presidential spokesperson.
The current corruption allegations against Adorni have dealt a major blow to the libertarian president’s political campaign. Investigators are actively probing potential illicit enrichment linked to the same types of excesses that both Milei and Adorni have frequently criticized in Argentina’s left-leaning populist opposition. Throughout the development of this scandal, which has negatively impacted the public image of the government, President Milei has maintained unwavering support for his aide. While visiting Spain last week, Milei explicitly defended his colleague to local media, stating, “Manuel is innocent. I stand by my ministers to the bitter end.”
