New presidential spokesman Adrián Ravier gave his first press conference at the Casa Rosada presidential palace on Tuesday, in a tone aimed at turning the page on the corruption scandal involving outgoing Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni, who resigned on Saturday.

Ravier spoke before accredited journalists at the building’s press room for a second time since taking on his new role. He had already introduced himself to the press on Friday, hours before Adorni’s departure. However, he did not take questions on that occasion.

The new spokesman apparently has made a shift in the snarky and often aggressive tone Adorni used when speaking to the press, opting instead for a more serious and neutral approach.

Fellow spokespeople from other government areas and even presidential advisor Santiago Caputo attended the first conference in a show of support. Caputo’s presence, however, could also mean an attempt to reignite the tensions between him and Presidency Secretary Karina Milei — the president’s sister — over the reigns of the administration.

 “I take on this commitment with humility and responsibility,” Ravier said, thanking President Milei for entrusting him with it.

During the media briefing, he highlighted the government’s achievements and said a new chapter began with the appointment of former Interior Minister Diego Santilli as cabinet chief, replacing Adorni.

“Santilli inaugurated a new political stage for the government,” he stated. Adorni left the libertarian administration by publishing an open letter to Milei in which he denied the illicit enrichment accusations for which he is currently being investigated.

That stage, Ravier said, will be marked by “political agreements” to make the government’s structural reforms agenda “a reality.”

“This is the most ambitious reform agenda since the return of democracy.”

The new cabinet chief will be sworn in on Tuesday afternoon. “He is someone with extensive political experience, who carried out an important work as interior minister by reinforcing the ties between the national government and the governors,” Ravier said.

About Adorni’s judicial situation

Regarding Adorni’s judicial situation, Ravier said that the former chief of staff made the decision to resign for “personal reasons” and therefore “does not affect the government anymore.”

“The judiciary will advance in that sense,” he added.

Ravier also said that Argentina is “at a double turning point in the economic program, both in terms of Argentine history and the stabilization program.”

“Argentina has endured half a century of economic stagnation, and Milei’s vision is to regain a leading role, re-engage with the world, and put the macroeconomy in order,” he emphasized.

Highlighting achievements of the Milei era, he said that there was a record hydrocarbon production in May and that “Argentina is going back on the path to progress in different industry sectors.”