Villarruel Maintains Silence on Spagnuolo Case, Increasingly Distances Herself from Milei‘s Approach
Vice President Victoria Villarruel has remained largely silent regarding the controversy surrounding former official Pablo Spagnuolo and leaked audio recordings attributed to him, while together signaling a growing distance from the political approach of President Javier Milei.
During a recent trip with Chubut Governor Ignacio Torres,villarruel,when pressed by journalists,acknowledged the difficulty of taking firm political positions given the “difficult and quiet confusing moment” the country is experiencing. She later refrained from further comment on the Spagnuolo scandal. A collaborator within her team characterized this as a position of “neutrality,” explaining that the situation was still unfolding and the veracity of the audios was yet to be steadfast.
However, this silence is occurring alongside deliberate efforts to differentiate Villarruel from Milei’s administration. Sources close to the Vice President emphasize she is actively cultivating an image as a leader focused on internal consensus-building. Simultaneously, they are actively pushing back against any association with specific political projects, including the United Provinces coalition – a space encompassing governors like Martín Llaryora (Córdoba), Claudio Vidal (Santa Cruz), Carlos Sadir (Jujuy), Maximiliano Pullaro (Santa fe), and Torres.”That she has been with Torres does not mean that she is in the United Provinces,” a source from the Senate clarified.while Villarruel is not currently pursuing an electoral path, her team indicates she is strategically “building for the future,” with a clear focus on the 2027 presidential elections following the conclusion of Milei’s term.
A key element of this strategy appears to be highlighting perceived contrasts between Villarruel and Milei. Her inner circle emphasizes her trustworthiness, ability to forge agreements, and adherence to commitments – qualities they suggest are lacking in the current administration, contributing to the government’s recent decline in congressional support.honesty is also presented as a core strength, with sources stating, “No one can say that she steals or is something strange.”
Moreover, Villarruel is actively promoting a federal vision, which her team claims Milei has either overlooked or disregarded. They point to a recent incident during a trip to Chubut, where the vehicle carrying Villarruel and Torres hit a significant pothole on National Route 26.This incident is being used to illustrate a point: “That is what Milei does not see with his chainsaw; that inside the national road closure harms people, that the destruction of national routes is something they suffer in their own flesh.” The Vice President’s team aims to showcase a level of “sensitivity” they believe is absent in Milei’s leadership.
