Chief of Staff Adorni speaks to Congress amid illicit enrichment accusations

Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni is delivering his first national administration report before Congress amid an ongoing investigation into alleged illicit enrichment involving him and his wife. In Argentina, the chief of staff has to present a report on the administration to Congress every month between March and November, something those who occupy the post don’t always comply with.  This means Adorni, who became chief of staff in November, should have presented two reports before this one. The chief of staff is speaking to the lower house in a session that began at 10.30 on Wednesday. At the start of his speech, he said he would detail the reforms carried out by his government, which are taking the country “to a destination of greatness (…) away from the tragic populism” that harmed it. “There is still a long path to walk, this work is far from being over,” he said.While he admitted the latest inflation number 3.4% in March was “bad,” he attributed it to “Kirchnerism, prebendary companies and some media outlets,” echoing similar statements made by President Javier Milei on Monday. Tight security The event is taking place amid a large security operation surrounding Congress, as Milei is attending the hearing in an unusual move, showing political support for his former spokesman and right-hand man. Before the session began, the president took a photo in a lower house office with all the members of his cabinet, including Adorni and Presidency Secretary Karina Milei — his sister. Also present were Martn Menem, the head of the Chamber of Deputies, and Patricia Bullrich, head of La Libertad Avanza’s Senate bloc. The photo showed a clear backing of Adorni in response to the scandal involving his purchase of properties and several international trips he and his family took since he joined the national government as presidential spokesman in late 2023. “I hope he will be able to show all the numbers of our administration. There are many good things to show,” La Libertad Avanza (LLA) deputy Alberto Benegas Lynch told the Herald before entering the chamber. Benegas Lynch added he hoped there would be no clashes with the opposition. “I hope they ask questions about the administration. They will hear many things they don’t want to hear.” Monthly report When a chief of staff attends one of Congress’ chambers to present their report, they generally do an overview of the recent achievements of the national administration and present the main official figures.  They also have to answer lawmakers’ questions, which are filed in advance and have to be answered in writing before the session. In this case, deputies asked 2151 questions, which were answered in an almost 2,000 page document filed on Wednesday at around 8 a.m., which means lawmakers did not have time to read all of it before the session.  Deputies can also ask the questions in person, so the session is expected to go on for several hours. Nicols del Cao, a deputy from left-wing Frente de Izquierda, said the government “set up a show,” referring to the presence of Milei and government officials, and observed thered be “many clappers” at the session, “which is not habitual.” “They are acting like nothing is happening regarding the accusations of alleged illicit enrichment,” Del Cao told the Herald. “I don’t think he will answer any questions about what people really want to know, like the social problems we are going through, which the government is responsible for.”