"These parasites": Victoria Villarruel's fierce response after Diego Santilli's resignation call

Argentine Vice President Victoria Villarruel launched a sharp retort against Chief of Staff Diego Santilli after he suggested she should step down if she disagreed with the government's direction. Villarruel, without directly naming Santilli, alluded to him as an "exponent of the political caste" that the current administration vowed to dismantle. She accused him of attempting to "cause damage to the institutionality" and "conspire against the republican order of our Homeland," urging him to "be democratic and respect the popular vote."

The public spat follows Villarruel's earlier comments expressing "genuine concern" over President Javier Milei's state and his perceived "imaginary persecutions." These remarks had drawn criticism from within the ruling party, with Santilli defending the president. Santilli, who ran on a joint ticket with Villarruel for national deputies in 2021, publicly stated his strong disagreement with the Vice President's actions, questioning her reasons for remaining in her position if she fundamentally opposed the government's path. "If she does not agree, she should step aside then, form her own project and compete," Santilli had said in a radio interview.

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If she does not agree, she should step aside then, form her own project and compete. What is the reason for being in a place where you believe you should not be?

Villarruel's response came via social media, a platform she has actively used. Her post described the individual as part of the "mixed formula that emerged spontaneously to break the hegemony of these parasites." This strong language underscores the deep divisions and power struggles within President Milei's coalition. Earlier in the week, Villarruel also had a public disagreement with officialist deputy Lilia Lemoine.

The escalating conflict between key figures within the government signals significant internal friction. Patricia Bullrich, president of the La Libertad Avanza bloc in the Senate, also commented on Villarruel's relationship with the president earlier in the week, indicating broader party concerns. The exchange between Villarruel and Santilli highlights the challenges of maintaining unity within a government facing economic and political pressures.

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One of the exponents of the political caste that we confronted in 2023 and defeated, seeks to cause damage to the institutionality and conspire against the republican order of our Homeland. This was a mixed formula that emerged spontaneously to break the hegemony of these parasites. Be democratic and respect the popular vote.