In a troubling turn of events, Argentine President Javier Milei was rushed away from a campaign event in the city of Lomas de Zamora in Buenos Aires after protesters hurled rocks and bottles at his vehicle. The assault occurred as the country prepares for crucial midterm elections in October and regional contests in September, and it highlights the growing public outrage over a fresh corruption scandal that has reached the president’s inner circle. While Milei emerged unharmed, the incident underscores the severe political instability and deep-seated discontent facing his administration.
The attack, which was caught on video, shows protesters yelling anti-government chants as objects, including at least one rock, strike the presidential convoy. Security personnel quickly moved Milei and his sister, Karina Milei, who was also present, from the back of an open-top vehicle into an armored car. This assault comes amid mounting public anger over an alleged corruption scandal involving Milei’s sister, Karina Milei, who holds the powerful position of Secretary General of the Presidency.
Leaked audio recordings, released on August 19, are at the heart of the scandal. A former government official, Diego Spagnuolo, is reportedly heard discussing a kickback scheme involving pharmaceutical contracts for medicines for people with disabilities. In the recordings, Spagnuolo alleges that Karina Milei received a 3% cut from each contract. The scandal has already led to police raids and a criminal complaint filed against Karina Milei and others. The president and his spokesperson have denied the allegations, calling them “political exploitation” by the opposition ahead of a pivotal election year.
This crisis threatens to undermine Milei’s authority just as his government faces a key test of its popularity. After a sharp decline in inflation, Milei’s approval ratings have stabilized at around 50%, but his severe austerity program, which has included cuts to public spending and social services, has generated significant public opposition. The assault, coupled with the corruption scandal, casts a long shadow over the upcoming elections, which will determine control of half of the lower house and a third of the Senate. The outcome of these contests will be a crucial test of the government’s stability and its ability to implement further reforms.
