Santiago Caputo, the presidential advisor, has conceded influence over the Justice Ministry to Karina Milei, the president's sister, amid judicial investigations involving her. This move aims to avoid internal conflicts in the libertarian government. Caputo retains power in other key areas of the executive.
Presidential advisor Santiago Caputo believes he did not lose the libertarian internal struggle despite retreating in the fight for control of the Justice Ministry. Libertarian sources explain that the power triangle formed by Javier Milei, his sister Karina, and Caputo entered a crisis after Mariano Cúneo Libarona's exit as minister. Karina Milei, General Secretary of the Presidency, maneuvered to take control of the Justice portfolio, displacing Caputo's influence.
The conflict stems from judicial investigations troubling Karina. In the Libra cryptocurrency case, promoted by the president on February 14, 2025, she is under scrutiny for allowing promoters into the Casa Rosada and for her role in the presidential agenda. Additionally, there is an probe into possible bribes at the National Disability Agency, where former director Diego Spagnuolo, a friend of Milei, mentioned in an audio 3% kickbacks for the official. Government sources indicate Karina fears ending up behind bars and thus pushed for the change.
Cúneo Libarona was a nominal minister, but decisions were made by undersecretary Sebastián Amerio, a trusted ally of Caputo. Karina selected Juan Bautista Mahiques and Santiago Viola, loyal to her, for the Justice leadership. Caputo conceded but secured Amerio's position at the Treasury Procuratorate, an area that operates in tandem with the Legal and Technical Secretariat under his influence.
The government avoided an open war. 'We have to look forward,' say official sources. Karina holds more weight as she represents the president. Caputo maintains influence in the SIDE, ARCA, Legal and Technical Secretariat, Nucleoeléctrica Argentina (NASA), and the Agency for Business Transformation, led by Diego Chaher. The agreement seeks to focus on management without internal frictions.
