President Javier Milei defended on April 9 the government officials and allied lawmakers who received mortgage loans from Banco Nación, responding to criticism about alleged preferential treatment. In an interview with Televisión Pública, Milei addressed the controversy by questioning, “If an official takes a loan from Banco Nación, the question is: Did taking that loan kill anyone? Does it violate the right to life?” He said that these operations were conducted at “market rates” and did not break any regulations.
The issue has drawn public attention as several government figures reportedly accessed loans under terms critics say may be favorable. The president’s remarks sought to justify the transactions and downplay their significance in ethical or legal terms.
Milei also offered strong support for Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni, who is under judicial investigation regarding his growing assets and recent real estate purchases. The president called Adorni a “wonderful chief of staff” and described allegations against him as part of a broader campaign targeting his administration.
During the interview, Milei criticized media coverage of his government, saying: “Ninety-five percent of journalists are criminals.” He argued that attacks from journalists and business leaders like Paolo Rocca or Javier Madanes Quintanilla stem from his refusal to grant privileges associated with previous administrations.
On economic matters, Milei acknowledged difficulties in early 2026 but expressed optimism for recovery in coming months. He predicted retail inflation would “collapse inexorably,” expected improvements in economic activity starting in April, along with better employment numbers and real wages. The president reiterated his commitment to fiscal austerity by stating that “the chainsaw remains active”—a reference to ongoing budget cuts—and said he would not compromise public accounts balance. Addressing dollarization plans proposed during his campaign, he explained: “What prevents it mainly is that people do not want dollarization; we gave them the option and they decided to keep using pesos.”
