Berliner Tageblatt - Argentina police carry out raids in Milei sister graft probe

The allegations against Karina Milei, her brother's right-hand woman and general secretary of the presidency, are the most damaging yet involving a member of the Argentine leader's inner circle.

The libertarian president and his sister were pelted with stones while campaigning for mid-term elections this week in a suburb of Buenos Aires, amid widespread anger over the affair.

Karina Milei is accused of receiving a three-percent cut on the amount paid by the National Disability Agency (Andis) for the purchase of medicine from Argentine pharma firm Suizo Argentina.

The allegations emerged in leaked audio recordings in which a man -- identified in media reports as Diego Spagnuolo, director of the disability agency -- is heard saying: "Karina gets three percent."

Spagnuolo was fired after the recordings became public.

Karina Milei has not publicly commented on the claims.

Javier Milei told reporters on Wednesday that "everything (Spagnuolo) says is a lie" and vowed to "bring him to justice."

Suizo Argentina has also denied any wrongdoing.

Milei's spokesman Manuel Adorni has portrayed the affair as an attempt by the opposition to discredit the maverick economist in an election year.

On October 26, Argentina holds legislative elections. In September, voters in Buenos Aires will take part in provincial polls.

The votes are the first major tests of Milei's support since he took office in December 2023 on a promise to revive Argentina's ailing economy by slashing public spending and red tape.

The 54-year-old has managed to bring down stubbornly high inflation and produce a budget surplus but his austerity measures have left many vulnerable Argentines, particularly the elderly, worse off than before.

J.Bergmann--BTB