Argentina President Milei faces feud, health protests, crypto scandal

President Javier Milei’s administration was rocked by an internal feud after senior adviser Santiago Caputo used his official X account to attack Chamber President Martín Menem, sparking the “Rufusgate” scandal that linked an anonymous X account to the communication team of former President Carlos Saúl Menem. The dispute deepened divisions among libertarians, with Milei’s sister Karina, the presidential secretary‑general, also drawn into the controversy. The executive branch even omitted the vice‑president from a Te Deum ceremony commemorating the May 25 national holiday.

At the same time, large public demonstrations swept Buenos Aires and other cities demanding an end to drastic health‑budget cuts and the enforcement of a university financing law. The protests, some of the biggest in weeks, were organized by unions, political groups, student bodies and social organisations.

The week ended with the World Health Organization formally accepting Argentina’s exit from the agency, a move pushed by Milei echoing former U.S. President Donald Trump’s stance. Simultaneously, prosecutors revealed Milei’s involvement in the promotion of the false cryptocurrency token $Libra, which duped around 44,000 people worldwide. Evidence showed a $5 million agreement with U.S. businessman Hayden Davis, with phone data from associate Mauricio Novelli confirming the deal. Other members of the administration are also under investigation for related corruption allegations.