The government of Argentina has declared its intention to close the ANDIS national disability agency, which has been at the center of corruption allegations linked to President Javier Milei’s sister. The agency’s functions will be integrated into the Health Ministry, ensuring that there will be no reductions in the benefits currently extended to over three million individuals, as stated by Manuel Adorni. Since Milei assumed office in December 2023, ANDIS has entered a phase of trusteeship and is undergoing an audit, a procedure that the government asserts has uncovered tens of thousands of irregular claims. The review resulted in service disruptions and grievances from welfare recipients, who rallied support to organize a series of protests advocating for increased funding for the agency and disability support programs.
ANDIS found itself embroiled in controversy following the Argentine judiciary’s directive for raids on its headquarters and those of Suizo Argentino, a prominent pharmaceutical distributor, in connection with an alleged scheme that involved bribery and kickbacks aimed at obtaining state contracts. The situation has positioned the President’s sister, Karina Milei – his most influential aide who holds the role of presidential chief-of-staff – squarely in the public eye. President Milei has refuted any allegations of misconduct involving his sister, who has remained silent on the matter.
The controversy emerged following the release in mid-August of purported audio recordings in the regional media. In the clips, a voice allegedly attributed to Diego Spagnuolo, the former head of ANDIS and Milei’s previous personal lawyer, asserts that Karina Milei and her associates received a three percent commission on amounts disbursed by the agency for the procurement of pharmaceuticals from Suizo Argentino. Following the emergence of the claims, Spagnuolo was dismissed from his position and subsequently charged by the courts as the purported leader of a criminal organization. Approximately 20 individuals have provided testimony in the ongoing investigation, which includes a former official from Argentina’s Economy Ministry.
Spagnuolo has categorically denied all allegations and has allegedly informed the courts that the recordings in question were fabricated and altered. Prosecutors have maintained the allegations, supported by supplementary evidence, and are proceeding with their inquiry. In October, Karina Milei was called upon by the lower house Chamber of Deputies to elucidate matters before Congress; however, she failed to appear at the hearing. Currently, she has not received a summons to testify from the courts.