The brand new Minister of the Interior, Diego Santilli, has become the key to access to the national government for the governors in recent weeks. Since taking office, Javier Milei entrusted him with a precise mission: to weave agreements with the provincial leaders willing to accompany the 2026 Budget and the package of labor, criminal and tax reforms that the Executive will send to Congress before the end of the year. With the ruling party without its own majority in the Deputies or the Senate, the task is critical: guarantee votes, avoid blockages and separate the “dialoguists” from the “irrational”.
In just ten business days, Santilli has already received ten governors. And this Monday, November 17, there will be two more meetings: Leandro Zdero (Chaco) and Alberto Weretilneck (Río Negro). The formal objective is to “know the agenda of each province” and ensure its legislative support. In practice, the selection is surgical: only those who adhere to the adjustment model, signed the May Pact or gave explicit support to the Base Law and the RIGI enter. The toughest Peronist leaders—Kicillof, Quintela, Insfrán and Melella—were left out.
The governors who have already visited Santilli
- Martín Llaryora (Córdoba) – The heavy weight of the interior. It accompanied the Bases Law and seeks to guarantee funds for public works and the management of the Retirement Fund.
- Marcelo Orrego (San Juan) – Radical ally, signed the May Pact and needs oxygen for mining projects under the RIGI.
- Ignacio Torres (Chubut) – One of the closest to the Government; He is fighting for oil royalties and has already announced that he will vote on the entire economic package.
- Gustavo Sáenz (Salta) – “Rational” Peronist, he supported most of the official initiatives and negotiates incentives for lithium mining.
- Osvaldo Jaldo (Tucumán) – He broke with the hard PJ, voted in favor of the Bases Law and now seeks funds for the sugar mill and routes.
- Rolando Figueroa (Neuquén) – Former MPN, strong support for RIGI for Vaca Muerta; one of the most aligned with the libertarian model.
- Alfredo Cornejo (Mendoza) – Pure radical, supports adjustment and negotiates benefits for the wine and oil sector.
- Carlos Sadir (Jujuy) – UCR ally, defends the RIGI for lithium mining and the Cauchari solar park.
- Raúl Jalil (Catamarca) – A Peronist dialogueist, he also bets on lithium and needs the Budget to include public works.
- Rogelio Frigerio (Entre Ríos) – Pure PRO, one of the first to sign the May Pact and accompany all the key laws.
So far, the provincial heads who have not yet met with Santilli are Jorge Macri (CABA), Hugo Passalacqua (Misiones), Claudio Vidal (Santa Cruz), Gustavo Valdés (Corrientes), Maximiliano Pullaro (Santa Fe), Claudio Poggi (San Luis) and Gerardo Zamora (Santiago del Estero). They are all on the Ministry of the Interior’s pending list, although for different reasons: some maintain indirect dialogue with the Casa Rosada and others were left in a more distant position regarding the reform package. It remains to be seen if they will be called in this first round or if their approach will depend on the progress of the Budget and the negotiations in Congress.
