Javier Milei almost never chooses who to put as candidates on the La Libertad Avanza lists. But the few times when he does, against the opinion of those around him, they usually end up being terrible decisions. As an example, let’s look at what happened with the ballot of candidates for deputies for the Province of Buenos Aires.
The head of the list, José Luis Espert, was an imposition of the President that his small table complied with, but it all ended with the economist being expelled from that place after the narco-scandal that involved him with “Fred” Machado. After the departure of Espert and the approved extradition of “Fred”, Milei tried to have the vacant position to lead the campaign be occupied by his ally Diego Santilli, who was in third position. But a prosecutor first and a judge later warned that the second on the list should be headed and not the third. And the second, like Espert, had also been chosen by Milei who knows why, apart from her presence at various libertarian events: she is the striking former star Karen Reichardt. There was desperation at this time in the Government at the possibility that the former Playboy girl would really be at the forefront of milleist proselytism, which is why the possibility of her stepping aside was being considered so that Santilli – with whom the President has already appeared in public – ends up being the chosen one.
In short: the President’s erratic finger imposed a head of the list who had to be removed due to his alleged drug ties and in his place would be a blond weakness also selected by him, and with whom now they do not know what to do.
Santilli, the former third party, seems like a more rational decision, although not if you take into account that two years ago, before making him his ally, the President called him “corrupt”, “monger”, “useless”, “terrible candidate” and “communist”. According to the folklore of libertarians, Santilli would come to represent what they define as “caste”, that is, a “careerist” of the many who join Milei in exchange for a position or a candidacy. It sounds unfair now that the President himself treats him as a “re-candidate.”
Also in fourth place on the list is someone who was exceptionally imposed by the President – the pen, remember, belongs to his sister Karina – and it is perhaps his best friend, Gladys Humenuk. He has known her since the time they worked together at Eduardo Eurnekian’s Corporación América, then he put her to collaborate with Karina in the General Secretariat of the Government, but her sister kicked her out and as a consolation prize got her a position at the Post Office, from where her superiors also tried to expel her, without success. Milei asked to put her on the list, although she is not even participating in the campaign. At least she is not a friend of “Fred” Machado or a Playboy cover girl.
That it is difficult for the President to choose candidates is also demonstrated by a still fresh precedent: he decided, against the opinion of Karina and other members of his small table, that the one who would accompany him in the presidential ticket in 2023 would be Victoria Villarruel. Today they don’t speak to each other.
