A series of high-level scandals has adversely impacted the approval ratings of Javier Milei and his party. Notably, on October 6, Jose Luis Espert, a prominent candidate supported by Milei, suspended his campaign following charges of money laundering. Prosecutors allege that Espert accepted at least $200,000 from Federico Andres Machado, an Argentine businessman currently facing extradition to the United States on charges related to drug trafficking and fraud. Until the emergence of these allegations, Espert was considered a leading candidate for the province of Buenos Aires in the Chamber of Deputies. In response to the accusations, Milei condemned them as a “malicious operation” aimed at discrediting Espert, who has denied any wrongdoing. Further controversy emerged when leaked audio revealed Diego Spagnuolo, the former head of Argentina’s National Disability Agency, suggesting that Karina Milei, the president’s sister, solicited kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies. Milei has dismissed these claims as part of a coordinated disinformation campaign intended to manipulate the electoral process. Consequently, Argentina’s Congress has responded by overriding Milei’s vetoes to protect funding for disability programs, education, and healthcare.
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