Ramón Flores resigns from Córdoba legislature amid sexual abuse scandal

Ramón “Cañito” Flores, a Peronist legislator in Córdoba, Argentina, has resigned from his seat in the provincial legislature following a scandal involving his former advisor, José Aníbal Ricardo Villarreal. Villarreal was among 15 individuals arrested in Villa de María de Río Seco on charges of grooming and sexual abuse of minors, involving victims aged 13 and 14. Prosecutors have upgraded the charges against Villarreal to include repeated sexual abuse with carnal access.

The scandal has triggered political instability within the Córdoba legislature. Rodrigo De Loredo, a former national deputy, has formally requested that his bloc initiate impeachment proceedings against Vice Governor and legislative president Myrian Prunotto. De Loredo cites “malfeasance and indignity,” alleging that Prunotto allowed the appointment of staff members with criminal records, including the advisor linked to the current abuse investigation.

In his resignation, Flores claimed he was the target of a “defamation and disqualification campaign” driven by local political interests. However, investigations have revealed that prior to the current arrests, a 2020 complaint involving Villarreal and his family regarding abuse and slavery had been filed at a police station but never reached the Prosecutor's Office.