The most noticeable absence at the inauguration of the ordinary period in Congress was that of federal judge Ariel Lijo. Both García-Mansilla and Lijo were appointed by decree in commission by Milei last Wednesday. Hours after assuming in the Supreme Court, Manuel García-Mansilla was present to witness the speech of President Javier Milei, who had previously nominated him to join the highest court.
García-Mansilla was the first of the four members of the Court to arrive at the Chamber of Deputies. He received greetings from deputies, senators, governors, and government officials. He arrived at 8:00 PM, minutes before the session began at 8:15 PM. He took his seat in the first row next to the ministers' podium, being highly sought after by those present.
Manuel García-Mansilla assumed with a low profile, while Ariel Lijo, who requested extraordinary leave, has not yet been able to assume. After García-Mansilla, the president of the Supreme Court, Horacio Rosatti, entered, followed by Ricardo Lorenzetti, who oversees the process of Lijo's integration into the vacant seat since 2021.
Carlos Rosenkrantz entered the chamber after the session had started, at 8:25 PM, greeting his colleagues and preparing to receive greetings as they got ready to decide Lijo's future next week. During Milei's extensive speech, the members of the Supreme Court maintained an unchanging demeanor, sitting upright and without changing expressions. Milei greeted each of them with a firm handshake as he entered the hemicycle, being the only gesture of interaction with the court members during his speech, which at times raised his tone and caused certain exchanges with those present, such as deputy Facundo Manes, when discussing the independence of powers.
