Milei shakes hands with an acquaintance. Photo: Chequeado.
Argentine President Javier Milei faces a political and judicial storm after the resounding fall of the cryptocurrency $Libra, which he actively promoted on his social media networks and that today is facing 112 criminal complaints for widespread fraud. In an interview with Jonatan Viale on TN, the president denied responsibility, although a leaked recording from the channel revealed a previous “arrangement” regarding the questions that addressed the case and the tone of the TN interview.
Milei, questioned about his connection to the $Libra project —which multiplied its value before collapsing, affecting 40,000 investors—tried to distance himself from the crisis. “I didn’t promote it, I spread it,” he said.
His central argument was that those affected acted voluntarily, like “someone who goes to a casino.”
“Everyone was aware of the risks,” said Milei. “It is a problem between private parties; the state plays no role,” he added, dismissing the possibility that his public support for the scheme, as president of the country, may have influenced investor confidence.
This stance contrasts with the evidence that clearly shows how Milei himself publicized $Libra on June 14 on his networks, tagging its creators and celebrating the initiative as part of his vision of turning Argentina into a “technological hub.”
“I am a fanatical techno-optimist,” he stated, comparing his support for the project with inaugurating an industrial plant: “Are you responsible for the operation of the plant afterwards?”
The shadow of the «arrangement» on TN
The condescending tone of the interview on TN did not go unnoticed. The leaked video makes it clear that there would be a prior agreement to modulate questions and approach, avoiding uncomfortable pressures on the president. Unsurprisingly, this revelation aggravated the criticism of Milei, who stands accused of illicit association, fraud, and violation of the Public Ethics Law.
In the interview that was published hours before, the president commented on an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Office: “that they investigate us all, including me? That has never happened in Argentina.” He assured that he had not received money for promoting $Libra and, in his defense, quoted a businessman named “Davis” who is linked to the project: “Davis says that I did not take anything.”
The opposition mobilizes
Unión por la Patria is encouraging the state to mount a political trial of Milei for “poor performance,” while the Civic Coalition and radical sectors are demanding a parliamentary investigation. The Left Front is demanding that Milei provide explanations on national television. In contrast, the PRO (the Republican Proposal) defends him.
The judicial complaints, placed before Judge Servini, detail that Milei violated his duties as a public official by using his public image to endorse a project without regulation. The plaintiffs —among them experts in law and technology— emphasize that his presidential support provided false legitimacy to $Libra, facilitating the scam.
While Milei insists that his “passion for technology” is to blame for his enthusiasm for the crypto project, the victims demand answers. Investors told the media that they trusted the president: “If the president supported him, I thought it was safe,” said one. The Prosecutor’s Office must determine whether his public enthusiasm crossed the line into complicity.
(teleSUR)
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/KW/SL
