A senior official in President Javier Milei’s government who was part of Karina Milei’s inner circle has resigned days after a major reorganisation at the Olivos presidential residence that saw 12 workers removed and security responsibilities transferred to Casa Militar.
María Belén Agudiez, until Monday the undersecretary for general planning at the General Secretariat of the Presidency, held a key role in the portfolio headed by the President’s sister, including matters relating to the operation and maintenance of the Olivos and Chapadmalal presidential residences.
Her departure comes days after Osvaldo Javier Sosa, the former administrator of the Olivos residence and Agudiez’s brother-in-law, was among those removed.
The Olivos shake-up, announced last Thursday, included the dissolution of the Administración General de la Residencia Presidencial de Olivos and the transfer of overall security responsibilities to Casa Militar security service.
Government sources, quoted in local media, said the changes were prompted by alleged “leaks” concerning Milei’s activities and those of his inner circle.
Agudiez was not among the initial 12 departures but on Monday became the 13th official or worker to be removed from roles connected to the residence.
According to the La Nación newspaper, sources said the circumstances surrounding her departure reflected growing “distrust” towards her, although the government formally cited “personal reasons” in a decree confirming her departure.
According to reports in local media, several of Agudiez's relatives also held roles connected to the presidential residence. Her sister Analía Agudiez was responsible for its kitchen and is married to Sosa, while another relative was part of Karina Milei’s security detail.
Analía Agudiez and Sosa also run a catering business, Pancitos Caseros. National deputy Marcela Pagano has filed a complaint asking the courts to investigate whether food purchased with public funds for Olivos was diverted to private business.
The lawmaker’s complaint centres on the purchase of 29 tonnes of meat and sausages for around 500 million pesos. She alleges that some of the food may have been diverted to Pancitos Caseros and used for private events and catering services. The allegations have not been established by the courts.
The government has played down the allegations, saying that if Pagano has evidence, she should present it to the courts for investigation.
Agudiez also attracted attention after reportedly sharing a social-media post making fun of Conan, President Milei's cloned dog, through the account of her crochet business, Manada Crochet, reported Noticias magazine, shortly before her departure.
Agudiez has been closely associated with Karina Milei since the libertarian movement's early years. She worked on Milei's 2023 presidential campaign communications team and helped organise the launch of his book and his presentation at the Buenos Aires Book Fair.
Local media have also reported that she was known in government circles as “the little witch,” a nickname linked to reported shared interests in mysticism with Karina Milei.
– TIMES/NA/PERFIL
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