Former Production Minister José Ignacio "Vasco" de Mendiguren said he will consider legal action after President Javier Milei insulted him publicly on Sunday [1].

The confrontation highlights the deepening friction between the current administration and former officials, signaling a shift from political disagreement to potential judicial conflict over personal reputation.

The incident occurred July 27 [1] during an interview at the La Rural agricultural expo in Buenos Aires. During the exchange, President Milei called De Mendiguren a "ladrón" — meaning thief — and accused him of ruining the country [2].

De Mendiguren said the insults are unacceptable. He argued that the defense of political ideas should not rely on personal attacks. "Las ideas se defienden con hechos, no con insultos," De Mendiguren said [3].

Reports on the former minister's next steps vary slightly. Some sources indicate he is currently evaluating the possibility of taking the president to court [1], while other reports state he has already decided to move forward with a lawsuit [4].

"Voy a iniciar una acción legal," De Mendiguren said [4].

The former minister maintains that the president's rhetoric exceeds the bounds of political debate. He said that he intends to defend his reputation against the public accusations made during the high-profile event.

“"Voy a iniciar una acción legal"”

This legal threat underscores the volatile relationship between President Milei and the previous political establishment. By moving the conflict from the public sphere to the judiciary, De Mendiguren is testing the legal boundaries of presidential speech and the protections afforded to public officials against defamation in Argentina.