Chief of Staff Diego Santilli called for the resignation of Vice President Victoria Villarruel on Friday [1].
The demand signals a deepening fracture within the Argentine executive branch, as the administration's second-highest official publicly clashes with the president's agenda.
Santilli issued the demand after Villarruel used social media to criticize President Javier Milei [1], [2]. The Chief of Staff suggested that the Vice President should either resign or move aside if she no longer supports the administration's direction [3], [4].
"If she does not agree, let her step aside," Santilli said [1].
Internal tensions within the government have escalated as the officialdom reacted with anger toward the Vice President's public statements [1], [2]. Santilli said there is a need for alignment within the leadership team to maintain the project's integrity.
"If she does not like the place she occupies nor Milei's project, let her step aside," Santilli said [4].
Villarruel responded to the call for her resignation by emphasizing her democratic mandate. She rejected the notion that she should vacate her office based on internal political pressure.
"Respect the popular vote," Villarruel said [2].
The confrontation highlights a significant rift between the presidency and the vice presidency, moving beyond private disagreements into a public struggle for authority. The request for her departure reflects a broader effort by the Chief of Staff to consolidate loyalty around the president's specific policy goals.
“"If she does not agree, let her step aside."”
This public clash represents a critical instability in the Argentine government's hierarchy. Because the vice presidency is a constitutionally mandated role tied to a popular vote, a forced resignation is unlikely without a broader political consensus, suggesting that the administration may face prolonged internal deadlock or a formal split in the ruling coalition.
