Overview
- Diego Santilli publicly asked Victoria Villarruel to "dar un paso al costado" on Friday, July 31, after she posted messages saying the president suffers "persecuciones imaginarias" and a "locura galopante."
- Villarruel’s comments were a reaction to a social‑media post by deputy Lilia Lemoine that President Javier Milei reposted accusing Villarruel and Marcela Pagano of ties to Peronism and complicity in an attempted impeachment.
- Santilli used his remarks to defend the government’s reform package, describing plans to make the BCRA’s sole mission currency preservation, bar monetary financing of the State, raise the threshold to remove the BCRA president to two‑thirds of both chambers, and add a "grillete fiscal" and a temporary shutdown mechanism.
- The vice presidency includes the Senate presidency, so Villarruel’s exit would change the presidential ticket and alter Senate leadership and procedural dynamics that are key to passing Milei’s agenda.
- National outlets say the public clash complicates Milei’s re‑election operation and coalition building; Villarruel had not resigned as of the latest reports and the dispute remains unresolved.