Intel head Agustín Rossi to replace Manzur as chief of staff

Rossi will commence his duties on Wednesday as Manzur returns to Tucumán to campaign.

Current chief of the Federal Intelligence Agency, Agustin Rossi, will be named Alberto Fernández’s Chief of Staff after Juan Manzur resigns to run for vice governor in the province of Tucumán.

He will be appointed by Fernández on Wednesday afternoon in Casa Rosada. 

“Alberto Fernández and Juan Manzur agreed that Manzur would return to Tucumán to lead Osvaldo Jaldo’s campaign for governor,” Casa Rosada announced earlier today. “Manzur will have to resign, and Agustín Rossi will be appointed.” 

Last week, Manzur’s departure was announced as he and the President led an event in Tucumán with Osvaldo Jaldo. “We are sending Juan Manzur back to the people of Tucuman so that he can work alongside them and make Peronism win with Osvaldo Jaldo as governor,” Fernández said, endorsing the duo in his speech.

Agustín Rossi has participated in kirchnerist governments since 2005 as a Congressman, Defense Minister, and Chief of the Federal Intelligence Agency. 

Juan Manzur was appointed in 2021 on the recommendation of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner after Santiago Cafiero’s resignation, the outcome of days of turmoil after Frente de Todos’ defeat in the midterm legislative elections. 

His appointment came after the Vice President penned an open letter to Alberto Fernández suggesting he “relaunch” his government. At first, Manzur was publicly active with Alberto Fernández, but their relationship has cooled during the past few months. 

Manzur, a doctor specializing in public health, began his political career in the early 2000s. After working as a provincial Health Minister for over a decade and being vice governor twice, he was elected governor in 2015 and reelected in 2019. As he cannot be reelected again by law, his province last year ruled he could run as vice-governor. 

Rossi’s replacement at the Federal Intelligence Agency has yet to be confirmed.  

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