Argentina's President's Sister Embroiled in Scandal: 3 crucial details to understand
In a shocking turn of events, Diego Spagnuolo, the head of Argentina’s National Disability Agency (ANDIS) and a personal friend and former lawyer of President Javier Milei, has been dismissed following the release of audio recordings revealing corruption allegations.
The recordings, released on August 19, suggest that Spagnuolo was involved in a scheme that implicates the pharmaceutical company Suizo Argentina. The voice in the recordings claims that Karina Milei, the General Secretary of the Presidency, allegedly collects three percent of ANDIS's payments, with one percent going to an operation.
The government responded immediately, removing Spagnuolo from his position. However, as of the date of this article, no charges have been brought in the matter.
Suizo Argentina, the company involved in the alleged scheme, issued a statement saying it acted "fully in compliance with current rules and laws" and vowed to work transparently with oversight agencies and the government.
The president addressed the audio recordings, stating they belonged to Spagnuolo and that everything he said is a lie. The president also promised to take Spagnuolo to court and prove that he lied.
Karina Milei, however, has not made a public statement responding to the scandal. The brother-sister duo's motorcade was pelted with stones and bottles at a campaign event on Wednesday.
The alleged scheme also implicates Eduardo "Lule" Menem, the nephew of former president Carlos Menem. Federal judge Sebastian Casanello ordered 16 raids, including the home of pharmacy owner Jonathan Kovalivker, in connection with the investigation. Kovalivker’s business partner and brother Emmanuel was caught attempting to flee police with $266,000 in envelopes during one of the raids.
The voice in the recordings claims that Karina Milei and her associates take more than half a million US dollars per month.
The scandal comes after Congress overruled Milei’s veto on a law declaring a disability emergency and allocating more funds to the sector. The national legislative elections on October 26 will put part of Congress on the ballot and test Milei's popularity.
Local legislative elections in the province of Buenos Aires -- which accounts for more than a third of registered voters in Argentina -- will also be held in September. Milei was forced to evacuate a campaign rally after protesters hurled stones at the van he was traveling in on Wednesday.
Milei’s spokesperson called the allegations "political exploitation by the opposition during an election year." Markets are responding negatively to the scandal: the stock exchange in Buenos Aires dropped in recent days, the peso is under pressure against the dollar, and the country’s risk index has surged.
As the investigation continues, the future of the Argentine government and President Milei's political career remain uncertain. The public awaits further developments and clarification in this ongoing scandal.
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