The opposition and allies of President Javier Milei’s government have set a date for an interpellation of Chief of Staff Manuel Adorni that could lead to a vote of no confidence in the Senate. 

Scheduled for July 2, the interpellation will take place on the same day Adorni plans to appear before the Upper House to deliver his first management report to the chamber presided over by Vicepresident Victoria Villarruel, currently in an ongoing rift with Milei. 

The initiative, which has a strong chance of advancing on the Senate floor, will be put to a vote next week after La Libertad Avanza (LLA) caucus leader Patricia Bullrich negotiated with allied blocs to cancel the session originally scheduled for this Thursday.

The interview Adorni gave to LN+ news channel to explain the origins of his undeclared wealth marked a turning point in the Senate. 

The contradictions in the official’s statements, together with the fact that he admitted to omissions in his asset declaration — thereby acknowledging that he had misled the Chamber of Deputies during his management report to the Lower House in April — prompted the Peronist Popular interbloc led by José Mayans to introduce a motion to summon him for questioning, with the possibility of a subsequent vote of no confidence.

Adorni has been under judicial investigation for the past three months over the growth of his personal assets.

The opposition proposal establishes that, seven days after its approval by the Senate, the chief of staff must appear before lawmakers to answer their questions. If senators are not satisfied with his responses, they could move to remove him from office.

As the days passed, the Peronist initiative gained support, including from several senators representing provincial parties. But alarm bells rang within the ruling coalition in recent hours when PRO bloc leader Martín Goerling said his party would back the Peronist proposal.

PRO increases pressure on other allies

Former President Mauricio Macri’s party had already sought to distance itself from the government, which maintained its support for the minister despite his acknowledgment that he had failed to declare US$500,000 in assets. 

However, its position on the Senate floor had remained unclear.

In recent hours, Goerling was unequivocal. Speaking to Infobae, the senator from Misiones not only argued that “Adorni can no longer remain in office.” He also stated that if the matter reaches Congress, “PRO will vote for Adorni’s removal.”

For a vote of no confidence to succeed, it requires special majorities in both chambers of Congress: 37 votes in favor in the Senate and 129 in the Chamber of Deputies. 

However, because Article 101 of the National Constitution is self-executing, the proposal does not require committee approval and — unlike in the Lower House — does not need a two-thirds majority in the Senate to be brought directly to the floor.

“We are not the opposition, but we will oppose any attempt to trample on the pillars of the Republic,” Senator Goerling said.

Bullrich cancels Senate session

Against that backdrop, the government decided to cancel the session scheduled for Thursday in order to move forward with a private property bill promoted by Minister Federico Sturzenegger. 

Opening the chamber carried risks: Peronist lawmakers were expected to seek a vote that would force Adorni to appear before the Senate the following Thursday.

Bullrich then convened members of her own bloc and allied caucuses for a meeting on Wednesday afternoon in the offices of the Radical Civic Union bloc. There, the coalition of 47 senators assembled by the former security minister agreed to cancel Thursday’s session and reschedule it for June 25.

The proposal was then presented to the Peronist bloc during a parliamentary leadership meeting held minutes later in Victoria Villarruel’s office. The Peronists agreed.

Bullrich — who has been openly critical of Adorni —- explained the rationale for postponing the session until June 25 shortly after the closed-door meeting concluded. On that date, lawmakers would vote on pending bills as well as the proposal to summon Adorni for questioning, she said. 

If approved, the interpellation would take place seven days later — precisely on the same day the official was due to deliver his first management report before the Senate.

What could happen on June 25?

If the Peronist proposal is approved during the June 25 session — and all indications suggest it will be — both proceedings would take place on the same day. 

First, the interpellation. Second, the management report. 

Clearly, if the vote of no confidence were to succeed, the second proceeding would be cut short.

Adorni’s future would then be left in the hands of the Chamber of Deputies, which would have to ratify his removal from office.

Originally published in Ámbito