The presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, played down the tensions between President Javier Milei and Vice President Victoria Villarruel. This comes amidst various reports regarding Villarruel’s comments about France.
The controversy began after Argentine national team players faced criticism for their racist chants during the Copa América celebrations. This issue gained attention when a video featuring Enzo Fernández surfaced. Adorni, during a press conference at Casa Rosada on July 23, insisted, “There was nothing wrong, nor did it create any friction.”
He clarified that Villarruel’s remarks on social media, which labeled the French as “colonialists,” did not reflect the government’s stance. “It was simply a comment that doesn’t represent the government’s opinion, and it doesn’t mean we are closed off to governance,” he explained. Adorni dismissed the rumors of discord within the executive as mere “media noise,” although he admitted that the president and vice president hadn’t spoken recently. He noted, “It created more noise than it deserved. It was just a foolish remark.”
Adorni further stated, “The topic has caused unnecessary media chatter, especially since we mostly share the same view.” His remarks followed the appearance of Karina Milei, Secretary General of the Presidency, at the French Embassy, where she sought to ease tensions and offer an apology ahead of the President’s upcoming visit to Paris on July 25 for the Olympic Games.
He emphasized that personal opinions, especially those mixed with football passions, should not be conflated with official government statements. In an interview, President Milei himself commented on Villarruel’s expressions, calling them “unfortunate.” He stressed that sports issues should be resolved in the sports arena, while political matters are best handled in the political sphere.
Adorni also echoed the sentiments of Francisco Paoltroni, a senator from La Libertad Avanza, who defended Villarruel and criticized the libertarian leadership for trying to undermine a vice president. “We don’t govern Argentina as a trio, and it’s clear to see. Everyone has their opinions, and we must respect that,” he concluded.
In a separate discussion, journalist Silvia Mercado raised concerns about the influence of Twitter personalities on the government. She specifically mentioned Daniel Parisini, also known as “Gordo Dan,” who often makes announcements akin to those of an official spokesperson. Adorni chuckled at the question, asserting, “The only spokesperson for the president and the government is me.”
He acknowledged Gordo Dan’s popularity on social media but stated he was unaware of his activities. “I recommend not getting too caught up in everything that happens on Twitter. I follow many entertaining users myself, but to assert that Twitter personalities run the world… I’m not informed about that,” Adorni concluded.
Source: https://www.perfil.com/noticias/politica/adorni-le-bajo-el-tono-al-roce-entre-milei-y-villarruel-pero-reconocio-que-no-hablan.phtml
