Argentina's government is entering a decisive few days that will decide the future of Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni, who is expected to leave his post amid mounting pressure.
Support for Adorni, who formerly served as presidential spokesperson and is a key aide of President Javier Milei, is said to be dwindling within the libertarian movement as headlines about his controversial spending continue to dominate headlines.
Speculation over the official's future intensified on Friday after the La Nación newspaper reported that Adorni had used staffers’ credit cards to purchase video game equipment that cost far more than his monthly government salary.
The official is due to meet President Milei at the Olivos presidential residence on Saturday, reported the Noticias Argentinas news agency.
A source close to Adorni quoted by the agency said his future "depends on Milei and a conversation with him."
Adorni, who is under investigation by the courts for illicit enrichment over lavish travel and real-estate purchases, bought a console and screen projectors at a total cost of about 5.85 million pesos (US$4,360) in August 2025 via the Mercado Libre website, the newspaper reported, citing unnamed government sources. Adorni earned a monthly salary of 3.5 million pesos at the time of the purchase.
According to reports in local media, both Presidential Chief-of-Staff Karina Milei and top adviser Santiago Caputo have withdrawn their backing for the embattled official. The duo, who do not always seem eye-to-eye are in agreement: Adorni's position has become untenable, reported Noticias Argentinas.
Last week, the government named a new presidential spokesperson and new press and communications secretary, laying the groundwork for change in a department that has been dominated by Adorni since Milei took office in December 2023.
Local media said a final decision on Adorni's future will be made this weekend, following Milei's return from an overseas trip to Spain.
With Adorni's fate seen by many analysts as all but sealed, an announcement is being prepared for this weekend and could come as early as Saturday evening, coinciding with Argentina's third group-stage match against Jordan at the 2026 World Cup.
Milei has repeatedly backed Adorni and attempted to remain loyal to one of his key aides, but the prospect of the official being summoned to Congress for questioning next week is seen as a stress the ruling party can do without.
Adorni's resignation would allow the matter to remain solely in the courts and reduce pressure on the administration, given the opposition would no longer have constitutional mechanisms available to summon him to Congress.
Inside the Casa Rosada, sources say Adorni's departure is expected to be presented as a "personal decision" by the Cabinet chief.
Acknowledging that he had been dismissed would not fit the government's narrative, which publicly voices support for his account of events and denies Adorni is corrupt, they added.
Karina Milei hosted several top officials on Friday for talks at the Casa Rosada, including Interior Minister Diego Santilli and Lower House Speaker Martín Menem.
Santilli is seen as a potential Cabinet chief and replacement for Adorni, as is Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno.
Other names mentioned as potential replacements include YPF chief executive Horacio Marín and Human Capital Minister Sandra Pettovello.
Local media report Ignacio Devitt, current undersecretary for strategic affairs at the Cabinet Chief's Office, will be named interior minister if Santilli replaces Adorni.
– TIMES/NA/BLOOMBERG
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