Journalist and activist Miguel Nicolini is one of the many cases in Corrientes affected by exposing the power abuse in the province. He was fired for his actions.
Nicolini recounted that he worked for a long time in the Legislature as a communications advisor. In 2024, during the case of Loan Peña's disappearance, he demanded answers from Senator Diego Pellegrini about the case and his strange trip with one of the accused.
«I think the national repercussion caused them a real jolt,» he expressed. Nicolini believes this case showed the «true» and «uncomfortable» side of those who are «questioned».
«There are things they don't want to work properly, and it's not just the Valdés family, but all those behind them,» the activist added.
Nicolini also stated that what happened with Pellegrini «was madness,» yet he continues in his position, as does former Security Minister Buenaventura Duarte, who «resigned a month after the incident and never explained the irregularities.»
According to Nicolini, he initially began supporting the «Madres Corajudas» group within the «Unión por la Patria» bloc. Weeks after the child's disappearance, local media went silent, and national media gradually stopped covering the story. It was then that the group of over 40 mothers decided to «raise their voices» and continue demanding answers from those responsible and from the authorities.
«Our goal was not only to show the case, but also to raise awareness about human trafficking in the province, the lack of budget, and the absence of a Defender of Children,» Nicolini explained, noting that Provincial Law 5773, enacted in 2007, was never complied with in Corrientes.
«One day, in the middle of the fight, I saw Pellegrini entering the Legislature and I shouted at him, asking about his trip with Laudelina and about the case. For them, I was like the organizer of the 'terrorist mothers,'» he reproached.
Nicolini emphasized that the political power game in all its splendor is «historical,» although «the Valdés family seems to take it much more personally.» «From our side, we never said that Gustavo Valdés abducted Loan; we denounced that as an official, he must be with the people, but he does the opposite, he distances himself and gets angry,» he added.
The activist highlighted the meeting held between the child's parents and Valdés at the Government House hours before one of the massive marches in the city. «Instead of them coming to Nueve de Julio, they arranged a secret meeting, they sent services to the groups of mothers asking for justice for Loan and other kids, there were also infiltrators. They are willing to stop any system progress,» Nicolini recounted.
«You are in a political position, it is a political responsibility, and you must act accordingly. I recorded it with my cell phone, and a week later when I tried to go to work, they forbade it. They fired me, saying that what I did was an act of institutional violence,» he shared.
Nicolini demanded that this scenario «not happen in other sectors of the public administration,» and detailed that in Corrientes, «60% work for the state, and many were pressured or fired so they would not speak about the issue.»
