Argentina mayor Marcelo Román suspended over corruption as Ituzaingó mayor faces fraud probe

The city council of Allen in Río Negro province voted 6‑3 to suspend mayor Marcelo Román pending a judicial investigation into alleged embezzlement, fraud and misuse of public funds. Council president Fabián Figueroa was appointed interim mayor while Román denounced the measure as an "institutional coup" and vowed to challenge it legally. The probe also involves local media businessman Sebastián Ocampo.

In the Buenos Aires suburb of Ituzaingó, mayor Pablo Descalzo came under political pressure after a court investigation uncovered a multi‑million‑dollar pyramid scheme operating from an office in Parque Leloir. The scheme, allegedly run by lawyer Ángel Elías Gómez and fugitive Juan Ignacio Lombardo, promised high returns on investments in futures, cryptocurrency and soy, but lacked any central‑bank authorization. While Descalzo faces no criminal charges, he must explain municipal oversight of the illegal operation.