In a move that shakes the foundations of Argentine politics, President Javier Milei decided to appoint national congressman Adrián Ravier as the new presidential spokesperson. The news, confirmed by Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni himself via his X account, comes at the worst possible time for the government, embroiled in a storm over allegations of illicit enrichment against Adorni.
“Meeting at Olivos with the President of the Nation. Adrián Ravier will be the new presidential spokesperson. All the best in this new stage, dear Adrián. A great challenge ahead: you will be the voice of the one who is making Argentina great again. End,” wrote Adorni in a post that was immediately shared by Milei. According to sources, the decision was made by the President himself after a meeting with Adorni at the Quinta de Olivos.
Ravier, a 46-year-old economist, is a familiar face in libertarian circles. Co-author with Milei of the book La batalla por la macroeconomía, the congressman from La Pampa is considered one of the most authoritative voices to defend the ruling party’s tenets, especially on economic matters. Born in Buenos Aires City in 1978, he specializes in monetary theory, business cycles, and public finance. In the lower house, he sits on the Budget and Finance Committee.
But what stands out most is the context: Ravier takes over amid the Adorni scandal, which has the government on the ropes. In a recent interview on TN, the new spokesperson addressed the case and, far from dodging the issue, called for an investigation. “It’s good that the bar has been raised, that we are discussing these things that until now we glossed over,” he said, in a statement many interpreted as a slap at his predecessor.
In the circle of strategist Santiago Caputo, the news landed like a bucket of cold water for the Karin faction. Although the presidential sister’s camp claims him as their own, the truth is that Ravier has a direct line to Caputo and Milei himself. “May the forces of heaven accompany you,” Caputo wrote to him on X, in a gesture that marks territory.
The new spokesperson is also the head of La Libertad Avanza in La Pampa and former director of the training academy of the Faro Foundation, the libertarian think tank that handles the ruling party’s funds. A not insignificant detail: Ravier will remain linked to the foundation, though without a formal position, raising suspicions about potential conflicts of interest.
With Adorni’s departure from the spokesperson role, the government seeks a communications shift. “Ravier is not arrogant, not haughty,” was heard in the corridors of Balcarce 50, where discontent with the former spokesperson had been growing. However, the question now is what will happen to Javier Lanari, Adorni’s number two, who is on thin ice. As of this edition, no one had confirmed his continued leadership of the Communications Secretariat.
Ravier’s arrival also means a change in the Chamber of Deputies: his seat will be taken by Martín Matzkin, until now undersecretary of Federal Articulation at the Ministry of Security. The Pampean must formally resign and administrative procedures must begin.
Meanwhile, some sectors within the ruling party are already rubbing their hands. The head of the Senate caucus, Patricia Bullrich, described the appointment as “a great step to unblock the government’s communication.” But not everyone is happy: the Karin and Caputo factions are vying for credit, in an internal dispute that promises more chapters.
The truth is that with Ravier at the helm of the spokesperson role, the government seeks to show a friendlier face to the press, but without losing the aggressiveness that characterizes the Milei administration. The question hanging in the air is whether this change will be enough to cover up the scandal surrounding Adorni, or whether it will only be the beginning of a larger purge.
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