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When Javier Milei, the extreme libertarian leader, entered Argentina’s presidential palace at the beginning of this month, he was not joined by his vice-president, Victoria Villarruel, or his partner, the actor Fátima Flórez.
During this pivotal political juncture, Milei was accompanied by his sister Karina, whom many analysts believe to be the true force behind his leadership.
During the period of running for office, Karina, known as “El Jefe” in Spanish, would often introduce her brother to the audience before he took the stage.
According to the unauthorized biography “El Loco” by Juan Luis González, she is not just Milei’s master of ceremonies, but also plays a significant role in managing his schedule, controlling who can meet with him, and even influencing his wardrobe choices.
The individual with the highest level of privacy within the new government is also credited as the mastermind behind one of the most surprising political events in Argentina’s recent past. She played a crucial role in constructing the movement that secured nearly 56% of the overall votes in the election.
Kari, referred to by her brother, was the mastermind behind some of the ideas that propelled him to fame. This included the concept of raffling his salary as a member of parliament, which he adopted after his initial election in 2021.
During a televised interview the next year, Milei drew a comparison to a biblical story to describe their dynamic. He emotionally shared, “Moses was a remarkable leader, but not a strong communicator, so God sent him Aaron. In our case, Kari is like Moses and I am her representative.”
Argentina has a rich history of married couples who held significant power in the realm of presidential politics. Juan Domingo Perón and Eva “Evita” Perón established a populist movement that has shaped the political landscape of the nation for numerous years, while also implementing policies such as paid vacations and women’s suffrage.
In the past decade, Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner alternated as presidents from 2003 to 2015, promoting a Peronist platform.
Some view the fact that this time it is two siblings without spouses or children as a manifestation of the disruptive political beliefs the Milei family is introducing to crisis-ridden Argentina.
According to Carolina Barry, a researcher in political science at Conicet and the National University of Tres de Febrero, Karina Milei has significant influence that extends beyond her political position. She is involved in various aspects of Milei’s life, from ensuring he looks good on stage to managing his weight and arranging important business connections. Despite their many differences, Barry sees similarities between Milei’s power and that of Eva Perón, who was known to have more influence than even high-ranking politicians.
However, Karina Milei differs from Eva Perón in that she did not become a prominent figure for the marginalized population of Argentina or the public face of the Peronist movement. While she has only given a limited number of interviews, she did earn a degree in public relations from the Argentina Business University and had some success with her businesses, including a bakery. In recent years, she has been responsible for organizing her brother’s public engagements and helping to establish his career in politics. This began approximately ten years ago.
Javier Milei’s speeches and flamboyant TV appearances, in which he espoused libertarian economic ideas, struck a chord as Argentina was experiencing one of its most devastating economic crises. His sister has not left his side since then.
Milei’s initial actions as president included lifting a restriction on government officials appointing family members to government roles. Karina has now been appointed as general secretary of the presidency, a position equivalent to a minister, and will have responsibilities such as creating public policy, drafting speeches, and overseeing interactions with the public. Some are already referring to her as a co-president.
According to Melisa Tatiana Slep, a political analyst and PhD candidate at Queen Mary University, Karina’s choice to maintain a low public presence was carefully considered. Slep also noted that Karina was involved in her brother’s 2019 theatrical production, Milei’s Consulting Room.
According to her, this is not a matter of shyness or reluctance to speak in front of others. Karina chooses not to make any public statements and prefers to handle everything privately, so there are limited opportunities for confrontation. This approach is a deliberate strategy to handle things behind the scenes.
Karina Milei is part of a cohort of female individuals holding important positions within the Milei administration.
Victoria Villarruel, the vice-president, will be responsible for overseeing security and defense as she takes on the role of senate leader. Villarruel has a history of defending military officials who have been accused of violating human rights during Argentina’s military dictatorship.
Patricia Bullrich, who finished third in the race for president and was previously a fierce opponent of Milei, has been inaugurated as the minister of security for the second time. Economist Diana Mondino will now head the foreign ministry. Sandra Pettovello, a conservative journalist, has been appointed to lead a newly created ministry responsible for education, labor, and development matters.
According to Slep, conservative women are assuming influential positions in politics that oppose progressive intersectional feminism.
Everyone is wondering about the potential interactions between Karina Milei and the different ministers. For instance, Villarruel, who was previously seen as crucial to Milei’s presidential victory, has now assumed a less significant position.
Barry mentioned that the Mileis family gains their influence from their ability to defy traditional expectations of a president in a predominantly conservative nation.
Barry stated that the coalition founded by Milei, known as Liberty Advances, has a variety of diverse visions and methods. He mentioned that there is a disruptive group as well as a more conventional and conservative group that may disagree with the disruptive ideas surrounding topics such as family.
Forecasting future events is a challenging task. The government may need to implement drastic actions that could result in significant hardship, making it uncertain what may occur in the upcoming months.
Source: theguardian.com
