President Javier Milei accused Vice President Victoria Villarruel of attempting to undermine his administration, according to an interview published on Apr. 5 in the Spanish media outlet El Debate. The remarks were made during Milei’s visit to the Madrid Economic Forum, where he alleged that Villarruel tried to cancel his participation in strategic international events and had been planning such actions since 2021.
Milei said, “A la luz de su comportamiento, no me sorprende que haya intentado que me cancelaran; lo que sà me sorprende es que estas cosas ella ya las venÃa craneando desde que entramos al Congreso.” He linked their deteriorating relationship to an incident during the Pacto de Mayo when Villarruel was absent from the signing ceremony due to illness but appeared at a parade the next day. “Dijo que no iba porque se sentÃa mal, pero al dÃa siguiente estaba espléndida en el desfile,” Milei remarked.
The president also pointed out that after this episode, Villarruel began associating with what he described as problematic political figures. He specifically mentioned her meeting with MarÃa Estela MartÃnez de Perón in October 2024 as a source of tension between them.
Milei criticized Villarruel’s decision to honor Isabel Perón by inaugurating a bust in her name in the Senate chamber, interpreting it as a direct challenge to his government’s ideology. He further claimed that members of Villarruel’s inner circle have repeatedly insulted and criticized his libertarian administration.
In closing comments from the interview, Milei expressed surprise at what he sees as a long-standing strategy by Villarruel aimed at weakening his position. “Me sorprenden las reflexiones que hace sobre que yo le hacÃa daño a la libertad,” he said, referencing private criticisms allegedly made by her about his policies and rumors of collaboration with dissenters from Spain’s Vox party. With these statements, Milei indicated that institutional relations between him and Villarruel are now minimal.
