A handful of votes that can be counted on one hand could save Chief of Cabinet Manuel Adorni’s skin and spare him the bitter experience of having to submit to an interpellation in the Senate and, eventually, a motion of censure that could wound him even more, if that were possible after his unusual explanations regarding his assets, from a political standpoint.
The key lies in a regulatory debate that was paused last week and promises to resume this week during Thursday’s session, in which the upper house is scheduled to address the request for interpellation presented by the Kirchnerist bloc led by José Mayans (Formosa).
The discussion revolves around what majority is required to allow the processing of the resolution project promoted by Peronism. The library is divided and anticipates a passionate debate, the outcome of which could end up favoring the plans of President Javier Milei and his sister and Secretary General of the Presidency, Karina Milei, who refuse to hand over the Chief of Cabinet in the face of the almost unanimous demand from the opposition.
At the end of last week’s Labor Parliamentary meeting, where it was established that the next session will be held on the 25th of this month, the head of the libertarian caucus, Patricia Bullrich (Capital), took for granted that this Thursday the Senate «will discuss all projects requesting the interpellation of Adorni,» and that if they obtain the absolute majority (half plus one of the total members of the Chamber) established by the Constitution, the Chief of Cabinet must appear for his interpellation the following week, on July 2.
Bullrich went further and assured that this is so by virtue of Article 101 of the National Constitution, which establishes the procedure for interpellation and motion of censure of the coordinating minister, is operational, meaning that its debate is enabled for discussion simply by invocation by a senator.
However, some disagree with this reading and recall that the Senate regulations establish that projects must have a committee opinion seven days in advance to be included in the agenda of a session. Any attempt to expedite these deadlines requires requesting its treatment on the table, which requires the support of two-thirds of those present to be enabled.
This is the position held by critical Peronist Carlos Espínola (Corrientes), president of the Provincias Unidas bloc, who recalled that the Kirchnerist project does not have a committee opinion, so it needs a two-thirds vote to allow its debate to begin next Thursday. «We cannot make a process to remove a Chief of Cabinet so easy. For me, two-thirds are needed to enable the treatment, and that is the position I will maintain in the session,» he stated.
Espínola clarified that his position goes beyond the situation Adorni is experiencing, but rather has to do with respecting institutional integrity. «It is barbaric that with 37 votes you can remove a Chief of Cabinet; it sets a bad precedent because tomorrow any opposition can gather the votes and drive you crazy, making Chiefs of Cabinet parade through just because they don’t like what they say,» Espínola explained.
It is based on this theory, if those who think like Espínola impose their reading, that Adorni’s chances of avoiding the Senate’s condemnation increase, something that until last week seemed a foregone conclusion. If the body decides to apply the Senate Regulations in this case, the ruling party could block the discussion of the interpellation if it manages to gather one-third plus one of the total body (25 votes), willing to demand that the project obtain a committee opinion before reaching the floor.
The path would be almost clear if one considers that the libertarian ruling party has 21 senators, so they would only need to get four more votes to block the interpellation. Much more so when Espínola said he would not be willing to proceed with the removal of the Chief of Cabinet. He believes that Adorni’s situation should be resolved by Milei, who so far flatly refuses to ask for his resignation, or, failing that, that the Justice system advance with its investigation and give the Senate the tools to push for removal.
The other three votes to reach one-third plus one could come from the Misiones senators Carlos Arce and Sonia Rojas Decut, from the Frente Renovador de la Concordia of Governor and firm ally of the Casa Rosada, Hugo Passalacqua; and Neuquén’s Julieta Corroza (La Neuquinidad), whose political boss is provincial governor Rolando Figueroa, always willing to negotiate with the Executive Branch. In case any of these supports fail, Chaco’s Silvana Schneider (UCR), who was vice-governor of Leandro Zdero until last December, could join Adorni’s shield. In the last session, she was the only radical who did not vote in favor of the nomination of María Verónica Michelli, ultimately abstaining, the judge vetoed by Milei.
Thus, the 25 votes that could give Adorni and the Government a political victory that seemed impossible until last week would be completed. In any case, there is still time, and anything can happen before the session begins. The case of Entre Ríos’ Eduardo Kueider is still fresh in a Senate that had been convened that morning of December 12, 2024, to address his suspension, but ended up expelling him from the body after a request for impeachment from San Isidro judge Sandra Arroyo Salgado entered the upper house just minutes before the debate began.
JAJA mirá estos zurditos desesperados quieren voltear a Adorni con la interpelación pero para mí no saben ni contar votos nosotros les vamos a ganar con dos tercios son un desastre el oficialismo se salva firme El Gaucho de la 4ta estos zurdos de mierda no nos van a parar
para mi estos hdps del gobierno quieren salvar al inutil de adorni con tramoyas reglamentarias, juegan su ultima carta de mierda pero no se la vamos a dejar pasar a la mierda con los dos tercios la interpelacion va igual se van a tener que ir todos viva la lucha popular