Argentina's Justice Inspectorate targets libertarian think tank's donors amid internal power struggle

A recent request from Argentina's Inspector General of Justice (IGJ) for detailed donation records from the libertarian think tank Fundación Faro has ignited political intrigue within President Javier Milei's administration. The IGJ, now overseen by Juan Bautista Mahiques, a minister reporting to the Secretary General of the Presidency, Karina Milei, has asked the foundation to list who donated, when, and how much. The foundation has ten days to comply.

This move has generated suspicion among advisors loyal to Santiago Caputo, a key presidential advisor. They view the IGJ's action as a provocation from Karina Milei's faction, especially after her influence grew within the Justice Ministry. Caputo's allies question the team's cohesion, asking, "Are we a team or not? Do we work as a team?" They feel the request was "out of line" and has deepened mistrust.

Fundación Faro, which the government-aligned faction considers the administration's primary think tank, recently declared receiving approximately 4.96 billion pesos (US$4.8 million) in 2024 from donations, courses, and workshops. The IGJ, however, maintains its request is a standard procedure. Officials close to Mahiques and Ramírez, the IGJ president, stated that the foundation had simply omitted a required annex detailing donations. They cited a regulation requiring civil associations to declare the legality and origin of funds exceeding a certain threshold within 30 days.

Despite the IGJ's attempts to downplay the situation as a "normal and usual" accounting review, the administrative decision has caught Caputo and his team off guard. They interpret it as another sign of internal power struggles, particularly after Karina Milei's consolidation of power in the Justice sector. The incident, though not escalating further, has exacerbated existing distrust within the presidential inner circle.