Members of the Argentine ruling party keep leaving the boat — MercoPress

Members of the Argentine ruling party repeatedly leave the boat

Paoltroni questioned Milei’s overly discreet handling of funds to the detriment of those in need

Just one day after Congresswoman Lourdes Arrieta left the lower house faction of the ruling party La Libertad Avanza (LLA), Francisco Paoltroni of Formosa was expelled from the party’s Senate faction on Wednesday. The reason given was “irreconcilable differences”. This is evidence that the hastily forged alliance to support the presidential candidacy of Javier Milei did not come about smoothly.

Paoltroni’s dismissal was signed by LLA senators Bartolomé Abdala, Vilma Bedia and Juan Carlos Pagoto, while Ivana Arrascaeta and Bruno Olivera Lucero supported the initiative by email. Abdala is also the provisional speaker of the House of Representatives, representing Vice President Victoria Villarruel in case of occasional absence and is also the deputy of the Casa Rosada in case of vacancy.

“We are pleased to address you in our capacity as members of the Senatorial Bloc of La Libertad Avanza to request the exclusion of national senator Francisco Manuel Paoltroni from our bloc due to irreconcilable differences,” the LLA bloc said in a message to Villarruel.

Paoltroni had sharply criticized Milei’s Intelligence Minister (SIDE), who spent AR$100 billion (about US$74 million at the unofficial exchange rate) while announcing his decision to block any improvement in pensions for senior citizens. Paoltroni also opposed Milei’s choice of federal judge Ariel Lijo for a seat on the Supreme Court. The judge now needs Senate approval to be confirmed in the Judiciary Committee.

“How come there is no money for the retirees, but there is money for the SIDE? With what face do I look at a grandfather in Formosa? I go to the bakery, (then) a grandfather grabs me and asks me: ‘Are we getting a raise?’ And I tell him: ‘No, there is no money.’ And for (multifunctional presidential adviser) Santiago Caputo there are 100 billion pesos that he can manage as he sees fit and without explanations!” Paoltroni said in a radio interview.

In addition, the government agency responsible for pensioners’ health care (PAMI) recently decided to shorten the list of free medicines and reduce the reimbursement of other prescription drugs, forcing patients to pay a higher percentage of already sharply increased prices.

The party’s reputation worsened even further when provincial parliamentarian Germán Kiczka, who is responsible for the LLA in Misiones, was arrested on Wednesday in the city of Loreto in the province of Corrientes. He was caught in possession and distribution of child pornography. Kiczka, for whom Interpol had issued a red alert, may have fled to Brazil, Paraguay or even Spain. Kiczka’s brother Sebastián is also wanted for the same crime.

Security Minister Patricia Bullrich celebrated Kiczka’s arrest: “Paedophile deputy within,” she posted on social media. “These mentally ill people will pay for this,” she added.