Buenos Aires Herald editorial

President Javier Milei’s 2023 campaign brought the word “caste” into everyday Argentine parlance, a term he initially used to excoriate career politicians that slowly became a blanket descriptor for anyone who could conceivably disagree with the new government. “Anti-caste” posturing was at the fore of Milei’s opening speech to Congress, railing against the “privileges” of politicians and unions, accusing them of lining their own pockets while the rest of the country struggles to get by. 

But in the last week alone, two individuals made headlines for getting appointed to high-paying government positions with no experience whatsoever due to their connection to La Libertad Avanza (LLA) leadership.

Arguably the most egregious was Lower House President Martín Menem, who enthusiastically applauded Milei’s jabs against politicians during his speech in Congress but recently appointed his 23-year-old nephew Federico Sharif Menem to a key position at the Secretariat of the Lower House Presidency. His reported monthly salary is close to AR$2 million (US$2,008 at the MEP exchange rate). 

Despite the flagrant nepotism and caste-like behavior, Menem defended the decision, claiming that he needed somebody he could trust in that position. In fact, he claimed his nephew’s appointment was only causing backlash because it touched vested interests. A remarkable attempt to gaslight the public into thinking that the move was in fact “anti-caste,” presumably because Menem’s nephew is one of LLA’s own.

The other episode was LLA activist Geraldine Calvella, also 23, being named as a director within the National Personal Registry, which issues national ID cards. According to her LinkedIn profile, Calvella is a law student who once worked as a political advisor at the Lower House with no discernible background in the field she will work in. She will reportedly make AR$2.7 million a month (US$2,710 at the MEP rate) and it is unclear who championed the appointment. 

This pattern did not begin in March 2024. One of Milei’s first decisions in December of last year was to overturn a decree limiting the appointment of direct relatives in government positions. He then appointed his sister Karina as the General Secretary of the Presidency. The LLA roster has many repeat surnames, with Santiago Caputo (Economy Minister Luis Caputo’s nephew), Francisco Adorni (Press Secretary Manuel Adorni’s brother), and Eduardo “El Lule” Menem (Martín Menem’s cousin) officially hired as consultants in the past month.

This week was topped off by Milei claiming a 48% salary increase for himself and his cabinet was former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s fault — not the result of him signing a decree authorizing it. The raise was rescinded after a social media row on Saturday but the question remains whether the president signed a decree without reading it or authorized a salary increase only to later backtrack after being called out.

Nepotism, cronyism, and political deflection are staples of administrations of all political stripes across the world. The “anti-caste” rhetoric was so effective because it rings true to Argentine voters. But the government’s attempts to claim the moral high ground in that regard become more hollow as the conspicuously caste-like behavior continues, which — despite social media posturing claiming otherwise — may eventually take its toll.