Milei set to lose Bullrich and Petri after elections, reshuffle ahead

President Javier Milei will need to make changes to his Cabinet before the end of the year after his National Security Minister Patricia Bullrich and Defence Minister Luis Petri confirmed runs for Congress.

Bullrich’s nomination as a candidate for national senator for La Libertad Avanza representing Buenos Aires City means she is all but guaranteed to take up a seat at the end of the year. Milei’s party is well positioned in the district and won the local elections on May 18.

Petri will be the leading candidate for national deputy on a LLA and Unión Cívica Radical list in Mendoza, his home province. The minister also has strong prospects of returning to the lower house, as he is heading the ticket for the local and national ruling parties.

In this way, both Bullrich and Petri are on track to be elected on October 26. They would need to take up their seats on December 10, leaving two positions vacant in the Cabinet.

The nomination of both officials as candidates for La Libertad Avanza underlines the impact of Milei’s Presidency and how it has reshaped domestic politics. The Security and Defence ministers had previously shared the Juntos por el Cambio ticket that competed in the first round of the October 2023 elections.

Failing to reach the run-off in a shock defeat, they decided to formally support Milei, who ultimately defeated Peronist candidate Sergio Massa to win the race for the Casa Rosada.

The head of state rewarded both Bullrich and Petri with Cabinet posts upon taking office. 

Petri also announced his affiliation to La Libertad Avanza last Saturday, posting a photograph with Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei online in which he is seen signing the paperwork.

Hei will lead the list of national deputies in Mendoza after La Libertad Avanza reached an agreement with Radical Governor Alfredo Cornejo.

“I want to congratulate @luispetri for taking on the challenge of leading the national deputy list for our coalition. His track record speaks for itself: he has been a provincial legislator twice and a national legislator twice, always with a great commitment to service and a deep dedication to Mendoza and the country,” Cornejo wrote on his X account.

He added: “Returning to Congress represents for Luis a chance to resume work in a field he knows in detail, where he has distinguished himself through his work ethic, seriousness, and preparation. I am convinced he will carry out this role with the responsibility and professionalism that define him, helping to drive the changes Argentina needs.”

– TIMES/NA