Argentina is investigating a case against the Chief of Staff, Manuel Adorni, for illicit enrichment. Spanish media have compared this case to that of a former minister in Pedro Sánchez's government, who is in prison and against whom the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office is requesting 24 years in prison. The Spanish online newspaper El Español pointed out: 'Milei already has his 'Ábalos': Adorni, Head of Cabinet and his right-hand man, is accused of illegal enrichment.' The reference is to José Luis Ábalos, former Minister of Transport and former Secretary of Organization of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party. According to the mentioned newspaper, Ábalos, who has been in preventive detention without bail since last November, is accused of having received kickbacks in the purchase of face masks during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the former Spanish official is accused of awarding public works to private companies during his tenure as minister. Last Wednesday, April 6, the first of the trials he will face began, and according to the Spanish media, the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office is asking for 24 years in prison for him for the following crimes: criminal organization, embezzlement, influence peddling, continued bribery, and use of privileged information. Ábalos was Sánchez's closest collaborator in the Socialist Party primaries, then joined his cabinet and stopped being a minister in 2021 when the president removed him. He is being tried by the Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court as he retained parliamentary immunity for being a deputy, despite having left his seat last January. Regarding the case of the Head of Cabinet of Javier Milei's government, El Español states: 'Manuel Adorni's assets have multiplied in recent months, with the acquisition of luxury homes and high travel expenses.' The Spanish media also noted: 'The corruption scandals surrounding the Argentine government of Javier Milei in recent weeks have reversed the presidential image before public opinion.'
