Formosa’s libertarian senator Francisco Paoltroni has formed his own single-member caucus in the Senate after his ruling party colleagues in the upper chamber moved to expel him from theirs, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
Paoltroni, 43, has been under pressure from his La Libertad Avanza allies for weeks. Pressure has ramped up on the senator since he voiced opposition to government moves to boost the budget of the intelligence services and appoint Federal Judge Ariel Lijo to the Supreme Court. He has also been critical of Milei’s star advisor, Santiago Caputo, calling for the communications specialist’s resignation.
In a statement on Thursday, Paoltroni reiterated his support for President Javier Milei’s government and announced the creation of his new ‘Libertad, Trabajo y Progreso’ caucus.
"Despite my withdrawal from the bloc, I ratify my support and accompaniment of President @JMilei, respecting the popular mandate and remaining firm in one of the promises we made in the campaign: to end the caste and work for a quality, independent justice system, with honest judges that guarantee security and trust," said the senator, referencing the Lijo nomination.
Paoltroni expanded on his comments outside Congress, where he told reporters he had met Senate chief, Vice-President Victoria Villarruel, and once again made his position on Lijo clear
"We said independent justice and you bring the most delinquent judge in history," he complained.
The initial move to expel Paoltroni began on Wednesday, when ruling party senators sent a note to Villarruel asking her to oust the Formosa leader from their caucus. The note was signed by Federico Atauche, Juan Carlos Pagotto, Vilma Bedia, Bartolomé Abdala, Ivanna Arrascaeta and Bruno Olivera.
However, Villarruel noted on social media that removing a bloc member does not fall under the scope of her powers as Senate chief.
"The Presidency of the Senate does not decide on the expulsion or inclusion of senators who are members of the caucuses, that is done by the caucuses themselves,” she wrote on Instagram and X.
“The expulsion is a disciplinary gesture and Paoltroni will probably have the same fate as [La Libertad Avanza deputy Lourdes] Arrieta,” said an influential Casa Rosada official, explaining the Senate notification.
Arrieta, who clashed with her fellow-party members over a controversial visit by La Libertad Avanza deputies to a prison in Ezeiza to meet ex-military officers convicted of crimes against humanity that were committed during the 1976-1983 dictatorship, also broke off to form her own single-member caucus.
Paoltroni’s statements about the SIDE intelligence services and the proposed appointment of Lijo for the Supreme Court have ruffled feathers in his party.
He criticised the failed move to spend an extra 100 billion pesos in espionage funding given that the retired are experiencing a drop in their pensions in real terms.
“What do you mean there’s no money for pensioners and there is some for the SIDE? How am I going to look an old man in the face in Formosa? I go to the bakery, an old man comes to me and asks ‘Will we get a rise?’, and I say ‘No, there’s no money,’” he said in a recent radio interview. “And for Santiago Caputo there’s 100 billion pesos to handle at his discretion without being held accountable.”
The libertarian senator, who also fell foul of presidential chief-of-staff Karina Milei by siding with Villarruel, also maintained that Caputo is making the President “make mistakes.”
– TIMES/NA
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