Milei names Manuel Adorni as new Cabinet chief, Guillermo Francos resigns

After weeks of speculation over his future Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos has tendered his resignation to President Javier Milei. His replacement will be Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni, the Casa Rosada has confirmed.

Francos confirmed his decision in a public letter addressed to President Javier Milei, citing “persistent reports about changes in the National Cabinet” as the reason for his departure.

In his resignation letter, he thanked Milei for granting him the trust to take on the position.

Francos' ally, Interior Minister Lisandro Catalán, has also resigned his post.

Local media reported that Adorni is likely replace Francos as Cabinet Chief, a decision confirmed Friday night by the Casa Rosada in a statement. It said he would assume the role on Monday.

Top presidential adviser Santiago Caputo – long rumoured to be on the verge of taking up a frontline role – is set to be given control of the Interior Ministry, according to local media reports.

Adorni, one of the most visible faces of the Milei administration, was elected as lawmaker for the Buenos Aires City Legislature in May earlier this year. Despite vowing to take up that role, he has been tapped by Milei for the Cabinet chief post.

In a statement, Milei thanked Francos for his service, saying the "nation will always be indebted to him."

According to officials, the decision to appoint Adorni was made in response to the election results in last weekend's midterm elections and the need to "renew political dialogue in this second stage of government."

After his resounding victory in Sunday's legislative elections, Milei has wants to secure agreements with governors and other political forces to push his intended reforms through Congress.

La Libertad Avanza will expand his bench in Congress starting in December, but Milei will not have a majority, so he will need the support of governors and other parties to move forward with his reform plan.

The President met with representatives from most provinces on Thursday and announced that he will present labour, tax and criminal code reforms to Congress in the coming months.

In his last appearance before the media as spokesperson, Adorni said that the reforms "will eliminate a host of taxes," with labour reform "integrating those who are currently in the informal sector." and the reform of the Penal Code will seek to ‘guarantee the right to private property.’

Following his appointment, Adorni thanked the President on X and said that during his tenure, "deepening structural reforms will be a priority."

Adorni, 45, is one of Milei's closest allies. Last week, the President named former finance secretary, Pablo Quirno as the new foreign minister following the departure of Gerardo Werthein.

More changes are expected to the Cabinet before December 10, when the lawmakers elected in last week's legislative vote are sworn into office.

Francos departs

Francos, 75, has served two key positions in Milei's government. Initially Interior Minister, he took over the role in May 2024 after the departure of former Cabinet chief Nicolás Posse, when the Casa Rosada opted to expand the portfolio's powers.

Like Posse and Milei, Francos is a former employee of Corporación América, the multinational holding company founded by 92-year-old billionaire Eduardo Eurnekian.

Francos' resignation, which comes just days after Milei's triumph in the October 26 midterm elections, had been widely anticipated.

In his resignation letter, Francos said that his departure is intended to allow Milei to “face the next stage of government without constraints.”

“I deeply thank you for the opportunity to serve our country and your administration with loyalty and patriotism,” wrote the departing official.

Francos also noted what he described as a “curious coincidence” during his tenure: “My first act as Interior Minister and my last as Cabinet Chief were both to bring together the provincial governors and the National Executive Branch in order to find mechanisms for dialogue and consensus-building.”

“It has been an honour to be part of a transformative project aimed at setting our country on a path of freedom and progress. Please know that, as always, you can count on me,” he concluded.

– TIMES/NA