Milley and Vice President Villarruel have a cold reunion after recent tensions between the two
Buenos Aires, July 28 (EFE). Argentine President Javier Maielli and Vice President Victoria Villarruel met again this Sunday in a heated exchange after the latest tensions generated between the two as a result of differences of opinion about the celebrations of the Argentine football team after winning the Copa America title.
Both attended the closing ceremony of the 136th edition of the International Livestock, Agriculture and Industry Exhibition (Rural Expo), organized by the Argentine Rural Society (SRA), one of the four largest agricultural associations in the country, in Buenos Aires.
The president entered the central square of the La Rural estate in an open vehicle, from where he greeted the authorities and the public, who applauded and shouted “Azadi Zindabad”, while the vice president was already seated, as well as several other members of the executive, in the main box.
The greeting between the two was limited to a courtesy kiss, unlike the embraces they displayed on previous occasions or the one they shared this Sunday with some ministers, such as the Minister of Defense, Louis Petry.
Moreover, in the official photograph, they were not seen together, as the SRA official was between them, so the expected image of ‘reconciliation’ was not there.
As has already happened with the government of Alberto Fernández and Cristina Fernández, who were hardly seen together in the last period of their mandate (2019-2023), there have been some clashes between the current president and his ‘number two’.
These intensified in recent weeks around a publication by Villarruel on social networks, which was rejected by the presidency and with Miley herself described as “unhappy”.
In reference to the controversy over the video of Albiceleste players celebrating their victory at the 2024 Copa America with racist and homophobic chants against French players, the vice president defended the team and called France a “colonialist country” and a “hypocrite for simulating outrage.”
The following day, Karina Miley, secretary general of the presidency and sister of the president, met with the French ambassador in Buenos Aires, as the government elaborated, “to explain that the unfortunate comment that appeared on social networks was a personal comment in a personal capacity and that it was not the government’s position.”
The presidential spokesman, Manuel Adorni, said last Tuesday that, although there are disagreements between the presidency and Villarruel regarding that particular episode, “the issue generated noise in the media that should not have been generated.” However, he acknowledged that Miley and his vice president “have not spoken these days.”
On a recent visit to France, the Argentine presidential spokesman highlighted that President Emmanuel Macron “took a moment to thank directly and specifically Karina Milla for her words last week on the occasion of the controversy over sports chants.” EFE
CMM/EAT
(Photo) (Video)