Argentina: Judicial appointment chaos erupts as Caputo's veto attempt is thwarted

Argentina's Senate descended into internal conflict over judicial appointments, disrupting the government's plans. The controversy centered on a candidate, Yamile Susana Bernan, whose nomination Santiago Caputo sought to block. Bernan is the wife of a former chief of staff to ex-Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona, who is reportedly at odds with Sebastián Amerio, a close associate of Caputo. The dispute escalated during a late-night session where the list of candidates to be voted on was expanded significantly. Initially, around 50 judicial nominees were slated for discussion, but this number ballooned to 73 just before the session began, causing disarray among both ruling party and opposition members. Sources attributed the disorganization to internal libertarian party struggles. Reports suggest Amerio and Caputo favored excluding Bernan due to her connections to Cúneo Libarona's circle. The name of Emilio Rosatti, son of Supreme Court President Horacio Rosatti, also emerged amid these tensions, with Caputo having previously clashed with the elder Rosatti over failed attempts to appoint justices to the Supreme Court. Ultimately, Karina Milei and her political allies intervened. To resolve the selective vetoes and end the debate, they decided to include all candidates who had received committee approval in the agenda, averting a more significant parliamentary crisis.