Javier Milei

Milei promoted the VULCANO project in 2022, linked to Mauricio Novelli, as being based on a sustainable business model. The project and its token subsequently lost value rapidly. Earlier professional links between Milei, Novelli and N&W Professional Traders gained particular significance following the $LIBRA scandal.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

On 14 February 2025, Milei promoted the $LIBRA token on X as a project intended to finance Argentine businesses. The price surged and then fell by more than 95 %; Chainalysis identified approximately $99 million withdrawn from liquidity by eight wallets linked to the creators. A federal investigation was opened. In 2026, an official forensic examination established communications between Milei and Mauricio Novelli minutes before and after the launch. In September, however, the federal appeals court upheld the exclusion of several complainants and considered that the initial fraud hypothesis had weakened.

Attribution

Directly implicated

Recordings attributed to Diego Spagnuolo, former head of the disability agency, triggered an investigation into a possible bribery scheme in medicine procurement and named Karina Milei among others. The affair fuelled corruption allegations against the government.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

In March 2026, several opinion polls showed a marked decline in Milei's popularity, which Reuters linked notably to the $LIBRA case and other corruption allegations affecting the government. By September, household financial stress and loan arrears had become another political issue.

State of the evidence

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Political responsibility

In early September 2026, Milei hardened Argentine policy on the Malvinas/Falklands by announcing new sanctions against companies participating in oil extraction under British licences and strengthening the defence posture in Tierra del Fuego. The government subsequently filed a criminal complaint against Navitas Petroleum and executives linked to the Sea Lion project.

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Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Spending cuts, subsidy removals, public-sector dismissals and pension policies triggered nationwide strikes and weekly pensioners' demonstrations. Some protests in 2025 resulted in violent clashes, arrests and injuries.

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Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The Reuters Institute documented Milei's repeated hostility towards critical journalists, whom he insults or describes as enemies. His government also closed Télam's news operations and sharply reduced public media as part of spending cuts.

State of the evidence

Reported by the press

Attribution

Political responsibility

At Davos, Milei attacked what he calls "gender ideology" and associated an extreme form of that ideology with child abuse, in a passage referring to a criminal case involving a same-sex couple. His opponents interpreted the speech as linking homosexuality with paedophilia; major demonstrations followed.

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Personally implicated

Before his election, Milei had publicly called Pope Francis an "imbecile" defending social justice, a preacher of communism and other insults, prompting protests from Argentine priests. After his election, his tone changed and he established an institutional relationship with Francis.

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Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Milei used a decree of necessity and urgency to launch more than 300 economic deregulation measures, including a far-reaching reform of labour law. In early January 2024, the labour courts suspended the employment provisions following an action by the CGT. In March, the Senate rejected the DNU by 42 votes to 25.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

In an interview, Milei described Colombian President Gustavo Petro as a "terrorist", "murderer" and "communist". Bogotá announced the expulsion of Argentine diplomats, considering that the remarks had damaged bilateral trust.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

At a Vox gathering in Madrid, Milei referred to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's wife as "corrupt", against the background of a disputed judicial investigation. Spain withdrew its ambassador from Buenos Aires.

Attribution

Personally implicated

Argentina's public universities organised large demonstrations against the real-terms erosion of their budgets. In October 2024, further protests accompanied the political confrontation over a law guaranteeing more funding and the presidential veto.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Shortly after entering the Chamber of Deputies, Milei recommended CoinX, a platform promising high monthly returns, and invited followers to contact the company "on his recommendation". The CNV subsequently ordered CoinX to cease certain activities; customers reported losses, and a fraud investigation led to searches and accusations against members of the organisation.

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

Milei stated that organ sales could be considered "just another market" and defended the idea on the basis of individuals' ownership of their own bodies, although commercial organ sales are prohibited in Argentina. INCUCAI condemned a presentation that could undermine confidence in the donation system.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Immediately after becoming President, Milei amended by decree the rule adopted under Mauricio Macri prohibiting the President from appointing certain close relatives to the administration. The change enabled the immediate appointment of his sister Karina Milei as Secretary-General of the Presidency.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Asked about the limits of market logic following the organ controversy, Milei replied that a future society might eventually debate questions currently regarded as unacceptable, an exchange interpreted as opening the door to a market in children.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Reverso examined several columns by Javier Milei and identified passages identical or very similar to other authors' texts without quotation marks or adequate attribution. The controversy arose during his 2021 legislative campaign.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated