PAMI scandal: allegations of requests for contributions to fund La Libertad Avanza in several provinces

A scandal involving the leadership of La Libertad Avanza (LLA) and PAMI appears to be spreading across various provinces. It involves a series of complaints about alleged requests for party contributions from officials of Javier Milei's party to fund campaign activities.

Most of the PAMI delegations in the provinces answer to cousins ​​Martín and Eduardo "Lule" Menem, territorial managers of Karina Milei.

One of the cases relates to the ruling party's internal dispute in Misiones, where Carlos Adrián Nuñez, who was chosen by Karina Milei, the President's sister, to manage the ruling party's campaign in that province, was criminally charged, along with the rest of the party leadership, for withholding 10% of the salaries of ANSeS and PAMI officials. The filing also calls for a challenge to the party's list for provincial deputies.

The complaint was formalized by Samuel Doichele, an agricultural producer and libertarian leader of Wanda, who presented his complaint to Núñez through notes sent between February and March, warning about this modus operandi. The complaint also included libertarian leaders Mario Pérez Miranda and Cristian Orlando Sanabria Brítez; and also included Samantha Stekler, head of PAMI Misiones, and Nelli Beatriz Guerrero, head of ANSeS in Eldorado. The two officials are on the list of candidates for deputy.

This modus operandi is not exclusive to Misiones, as complaints have arisen in Chaco, Santa Cruz, and La Pampa, where embezzlement and bidding processes are being investigated. In response to this situation, PAMI authorities issued a statement asserting that the delegations "will no longer be a black box serving politics." In this regard, they indicated that an internal investigation has been initiated and they promise sanctions.

In the case of Misiones, the scandal began to unravel in February of this year when ANSeS and PAMI officials conveyed their complaint to Núñez regarding the compulsory contributions while demanding the return of the money they were forced to deposit. Faced with this situation, the leaders demanded the resignation of the party leader after suggesting a certain sympathy with the Frente Renovador de la Concordia (Renewal Front of Concord), led by Carlos Rovira and which has governed the province for almost 25 years.

Internal tensions among the libertarians are sure to increase ahead of the June 8 elections, when half of the Misiones Chamber of Deputies will be elected.

In La Pampa, the Libertarian internal election could be the plot of a comedy of errors if it weren't for the allegations of position sharing within PAMI. To begin with, the head of PAMI in that province is Luciano Ortiz, who also controls the party. But, as was the case in several districts, Karina Milei wanted to show her power and appointed Juan Pablo Patterer as her replacement to head the party leadership. In February of this year, the court challenged the appointment, and Ortiz regained his position as head of LLA.

But the bidding didn't end there. After the differences between Ortíz and Patterer, a third libertarian faction emerged, anchored by María Victoria Rambur, one of the three representatives of LLA. The leader targeted Julio Jamad, a member of the Provincial Executive Council of La Libertad Avanza - La Pampa, who was identified as "the fundraiser" because he appears as the owner of an account into which officials deposit 15% of their salaries to fund campaign activities .

In statements to the local press, the leader admitted he is the account holder but denied that the contributions were compulsory. However, the truth is that this scandal exposed the appointment of 12 libertarian activists to public positions in PAMI delegations in La Pampa.

In the midst of this scandal, PAMI, which reports to the Secretary of Health, Mario Lugones (father of Santiago Lugones, partner of Santiago Caputo), announced an internal audit to end the irregularities. "We will not tolerate retirees' money ending up in the hands of crooks who for years conducted illegal business," PAMI stated in a statement. It was a direct message to the Menems, "Lule," and Martín.

In Santa Cruz, Sergio Torres, who headed the PAMI delegation in Caleta Olivia, was fired after accusing the current executive director of the pension fund in that province, Jairo Guzmán, of demanding that he force a doctor to pay a party contribution.

Torres refused to comply with his former political boss's request, even though he himself confirmed that he contributed 10% of his salary to the party, though he clarified that he did so voluntarily. There are reports of similar cases in Chaco and other provinces across the country that are being investigated. What is clear is that there is a strong relationship between the authorities designated to manage PAMI's funds and the leadership of La Libertad Avanza.