On Sunday, in the bunker of the feat, Javier Milei tried to be even-handed when it came to thanking him. He let his sister Karina speak before him, so that she could sign the victory. But immediately, when it was his turn, he raised his arm equally to her and his star advisor, Santiago Caputo: “The two architects of victory,” he defined them, Solomonic. However, behind those cold blankets that the President – already tired of the advance of the general secretary on the consultant – tries to put, the fight does not let up. On the contrary, the unexpected result of the elections only made it worse. Let’s see.
Before Sunday, Milei had surprised with the possibility that “Santi” Caputo would come out of the shadows and assume a formal position in what would be the second phase of his government. Until now, the consultant has a contract with the Casa Rosada and is listed before the treasury as a simple monotributista, despite managing several of the most million-dollar funds of the libertarian administration remotely. Aware of this news, Caputo went all out: he spread the version, among his many journalist friends, that as of Monday the 27th he would be the new Chief of Staff. But something happened in the middle: the triumph that changed the plans and Karina’s veto. That same Sunday, in the bunker, the first to speak was Guillermo Francos, who until hours before seemed to have one foot outside the Government due to the supposed empowerment of “Santi”, who was seeking his position. Now, however, confirmed by the President’s sister, he looks firmer than ever and functions as a “buffer” for Caputo’s aspirations. The Chief of Staff? No, that one is already taken.
Not only did Karina block the promotion of her internal adversary to an important position, but she also confirmed the influence of her operators, the cousins Menem, Martín and “Lule”, as creators of the campaign that culminated in success. Before the election, Caputo had asked for the head of the people of La Rioja, affected by the scandal of bribery in Disability, to “decompress” the situation before public opinion. Milei was about to buy the idea, especially with “Lule”, but her sister interceded and prevented anyone from leaving. Caputo and the Menem detest each other with all their souls. And after the victory, which screwed them to their positions, it is the Riojans who are now advancing on the advisor and circulating the version that Karina could soon take away the boxes that she manages today, from SIDE to ARCA (the former AFIP) and YPF. Will it happen?
Caputo is convinced that his contribution to the electoral victory was more important than that of Karina and the Menems, and that is why he demands an award according to the circumstances. It was “Santi”, through his close friend Leonardo Scatturice and the lobbyist’s North American partner, Barry Bennett, who achieved the last two meetings between Milei and Donald Trump and the subsequent economic rescue that allowed the libertarians to reach the elections alive and well. Without the help of Uncle Donald, singing would have been different.
But if Caputo writes that bean into his account, Karina doesn’t recognize it. And while it continues to block his entry into the Cabinet, it entertains itself by cutting back, little by little, his powers. The war promises to continue and it is clear who will be the winner.
