Rubén Javier Ruffi appointed as Argentina's National Director of Mercosur

The Argentine government has officially designated Rubén Javier Ruffi as the new interim National Director of Mercosur through Resolution 146/2026. The appointment was confirmed by Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno and falls under the Subsecretariat of International Economic Negotiations and Integration.

Ruffi is a career diplomat who previously served as Argentina's ambassador to El Salvador between 2019 and 2023. His recent experience includes roles as Argentina's representative to Mercosur and the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) in Montevideo, as well as head of the Directorate of Institutional Affairs of Mercosur.

The appointment comes amid significant criticism from Minister Quirno regarding the regional bloc's current structure. Quirno has advocated for reducing protectionism and reforming the Common External Tariff to increase competitiveness, suggesting that Argentina may pursue bilateral agreements if the bloc does not modernize its processes.