The president of Argentina, Javier Milei, faced an attack from protesters who threw stones while he was campaigning near Buenos Aires on Wednesday. The demonstrators were opposing allegations of corruption linked to his administration.
The leader, who was quickly escorted away by security, was unharmed after his convoy was targeted, according to a statement by presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni on X.
Milei, who is running in the October midterm elections, had been traveling in the back of a pickup truck, meeting supporters in Lomas de Zamora, a city 20km south of the capital, when the incident occurred. Protesters hurled plants, rocks, and bottles at his vehicle.
The vehicle carrying Milei, his sister Karina Milei, and other officials promptly departed the area. Shortly afterward, clashes erupted between the president’s supporters and opponents.
The unrest comes amid a controversy in Argentina over accusations of misconduct at the public disability agency involving Karina Milei, who holds significant influence and works closely with her brother.
“Milei came to provoke. And well, he had to leave, as was fitting,” said Ramon, a retiree who declined to provide his full name, noting that Lomas de Zamora is a known opposition stronghold.
Ariel Ferrari, a supporter of Milei, said he was there to “defend the ideas of Javier Milei … to free Latin America and the entire world from socialist, Marxist ideas which never worked.”
Earlier that day, Milei had addressed the controversy sparked by leaked audio recordings from Diego Spagnuolo, the former head of the disability agency.
In the recordings, which have been widely reported in Argentine media, Spagnuolo accused Karina Milei of misusing funds intended for people with disabilities.
The president broke his silence on the matter on Wednesday.
“Everything [Spagnuolo] says is a lie,” Milei told reporters in Lomas de Zamora before the protests began, adding, “We are going to bring him to justice and prove he lied.”
The incident highlights the potential political risks of the scandal for Milei ahead of the legislative elections.
The upcoming vote will be the first major assessment of his support since he assumed office in December 2023, promising to revive Argentina’s struggling economy.
The 54-year-old leader has reduced high inflation and achieved a budget surplus through deep spending cuts, including reductions in services for people with disabilities.
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