Buenos Aires City lawmaker Ramiro Marra has been expelled from La Libertad Avanza after backing tax hikes in the nation’s capital.
Marra, the party’s former head of caucus in the City Legislature, was ousted “for not having accepted the party’s guidelines,” a statement revealed.
“LLA informs that legislator Ramiro Marra is no longer part of La Libertad Avanza at the national level or in any district of the country, irreversibly,” the party’s official account posted on social media late Wednesday.
The measure against Marra was “a consequence of not following the party's guidelines and having voted in favor of the unacceptable tax increase in Buenos Aires City, which contradicts the ideals of President Javier Milei,” it continued.
The ruling party followed this up with a stern warning: “All those who do not respect the president's agenda will be expelled. No matter who they are.”
The message was clear: expulsion, not resignation.
Reacting to the news, Marra – who will need to win re-election in this year’s elections if he intends to stay on – tweeted a brief and enigmatic message: “Long live loyalty. Long live freedom dammit. We'll talk tomorrow” — a nod to Milei’s notorious catchphrase: “¡Viva la libertad carajo!”
To the margins
Marra, 42, is one of the libertarian party’s most famous faces.
A businessman, trader and financial influencer, he was one of the first names to sign up with Milei and his second-in-command, Victoria Villarruel, when they established the La Libertad Avanza coalition ahead of the 2021 midterms. He also ran as the party’s City mayoral hopeful in 2023.
But like Villarruel, Marra has fallen from favour as Milei’s star has risen, reaching the Presidency. Not even considered for a Cabinet post in the La Libertad Avanza government, Marra has remained a deputy in the City, pushed to the margins.
Over the past year, Marra has also clashed with the president’s sister, Karina Milei, who serves as presidential chief-of-staff.
The ejection of the Bullet Market broker is a symptom of a months-long confrontation between the City lawmaker and ‘El Jefe,’ who ousted Marra to impose one of her closest allies, Pilar Ramírez, as head of the LLA caucus in the City legislature.
He challenged the appointment, but was unsuccessful.
Recently Marra additionally countered Ramirez by helping to contribute the votes that City Mayor Jorge Macri needed for the approval of the capital’s 2025 budget.
– TIMES/PERFIL
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