Guillermo Michel under investigation for SIRA import scheme while urging Kicillof to focus on Buenos Aires

Guillermo Michel, who served as director general of Argentine Customs during Sergio Massa's tenure as economy minister, was a key figure in the creation of the Sistema de Importaciones de la República Argentina (SIRA) launched in October 2022. Federal prosecutors are investigating a suspected parallel circuit that allegedly allowed companies to obtain SIRA authorizations through illegal payments of 10%‑15% to accelerate approvals. While the investigation has not publicly confirmed any indictment of Michel, the probe seeks to identify who within the state facilitated such transactions.

Now a national deputy for Entre Ríos, Michel used a televised interview to criticize Governor Axel Kicillof of Buenos Aires Province, urging him to concentrate on governing the province and not export internal Peronist disputes to the rest of the country. He also reflected on the Peronist defeat in the 2019‑2023 elections, attributing it to a lack of clear leadership and calling for a renewed focus on industry and provincial autonomy.