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Villarruel Rebukes Lemoine Online, Deepening Rifts in Argentina’s Ruling Coalition

The clash highlights open strain over the vice president’s duties versus loyalty to President Javier Milei.

Overview

  • Vice President Victoria Villarruel fired back on X after deputy Lilia Lemoine said she should be loyal, humble, and stay quiet for four years, calling Lemoine someone who “spews nonsense in bulk.”
  • The new round followed Villarruel reposting on Instagram a video by Morón councilor Ariel Aguilera that praised her and criticized Milei, which lawyer Hernán Saivane captured and shared on X while tagging Lemoine.
  • Villarruel also questioned Lemoine’s fitness for office and said she entered Congress on a “lista sábana,” a closed party list system in Argentina that lets parties assign candidates by a preset order.
  • Lemoine escalated by saying Villarruel was driven by a thirst for power and would end up in an opposition party, while outside voices like sociologist Laura Etcharren publicly defended the vice president’s right to speak.
  • The dispute revives a long feud that included Lemoine’s 2025 insults and a judicial complaint that year from Villarruel alleging threats and instigation, underscoring open factionalism inside La Libertad Avanza with no sign of a resolution.