The hidden reasons for the departure of Mario Russo, which protects the power of Santiago Caputo in the Ministry of Health
Although the Casa Rosada tried to disguise the departure of the Minister of Health, Mario Russo, arguing that it was for “personal reasons”, he actually made the decision Santiago Caputo and He took shape in a spicy phone conversationthe result of long months of serious infighting in the dual-command portfolio, which has been dosed since December.
The appointment of Mario Lugonese in his place is a confirmation of the adviser’s power over the area, which he already controlled in the shadows through his friend, who will now be a minister on paper. But deep down it’s a sign that despite my discussions with Guillermo Francos, with Sandra Pettovello and previous underground grudges from the party Karina Milei, maintains support for presidential leadership.
The Health portfolio in the Milei administration era was born amid controversy. In designing the government’s organizational chart, the President-elect’s original intention was for it to be part of a very broad Department of Human Capital. But Sandra Pettovello, who agreed to take on all the “soft” areas – labor, social development, education – specifically asked that she also not be entrusted with the management of an extremely complex sector with a huge budget and exceeding the political and cash infinity. “I didn’t want, or rather couldn’t face such orders,” summed up the witness of the meeting with the president’s loyal friend directly.
At that time the ascendant Santiago Caputo He raised his hand to take the reins of the state elephant, where the national hospitals are managed and medicines, vaccines and supplies are purchased, but funds with a territorial presence and political influence, such as PAMI and the Superintendence of Health Services, are also run. He immediately rejected the plan to demote him to the rank of secretary and proposed an unorthodox decision-making scheme: he appointed Maria Russo as minister, but internally empowered a friend, Dr. Lugones, former head of the Güemes sanatorium. During the nine months the government was in office, keeping an extremely low profile, Lugones monitored, vetoed and ordered decisions. Caputo always reports.
Santiago Caputo met Lugones fifteen years ago through his son Rodrigo Lugones, a consultant like him who is about ten years older than him and has been his mentor in a way. They became friends while working under the guidance of a communication expert Jaime Duran Barba in Mauricio Macri’s presidential project. Caputo and “Rolo”, as he is nicknamed, formed a bond of professional trust that became personal to the extent that, after being introduced by his father, he and Guillermo Garat – today named at YPF – set up their own consulting company (i.e. , which in the jargon inside the partner group we prefer to call “cooperative”).
The scheme of dual command at the ministry only resulted in proceedings in the spring. Over the course of months, the trust between them was shaken and the dynamic not only stopped working, but also hindered day-to-day decision-making. Russo repeatedly demonstrated that he was not willing to be a puppet, that he would not blindly sign resolutions, and opposed several decisions that came through Lugones from the Casa Rosada.
“They had different views on the speed and opportunities of the moment, Mario wanted to avoid self-inflicted mistakes in delicate matters that would be difficult to correct later.”they said in the 9 de Julio building.
Friction has multiplied due to differences in criteria for different issues: from the transfer of the Bonaparte Hospital, through the termination of health programs, to the adjustment of the oncology drug procurement system of the Directorate of Assistance in Special Situations (DADSE) to eliminate middlemen. But to avoid creating political noise for themselves and for Milea, both sides complied the status quo.
During these tensions, Caputo and Lugones took a step to restore the original spirit and to exert more control over Russo’s management: they convinced him to appoint Cecilia Loccisano as administrative secretary, the trusted Lugones technique. But the intervention, far from greasing the machinery, exacerbated the disagreements, with witnesses citing heated phone calls between the minister, Caputo and Lugones.
Although they said that Russo resigned for personal reasons, there are versions that suggest that Caputo carefully planned a way to formalize Lugones’ role, after consulting with Javier Milei and Karina Milei, and that he was biding his time.
The turning point was the discovery that Russo had given the city a dose of dengue vaccines without first consulting them. But they say the split actually stemmed from Russo’s moves to cut Loccisano’s power. And that resentment over Russo’s relationship with Sandra Pettovello, conflict with Santiago Caputo, and vice versa played a role in the background. In the end, it was the Minister of Human Capital who initially invited Russo to join the government as secretary, although it was later former chief of staff Nicolás Posse who summoned him from the offices of the Libertador building before Milei offered him to take over minister.
Russo spoke yesterday with Guillermo Francos, the chief of staff, who was not involved in Caputo’s decision in agreement with the president and the secretary general. And then also with Milea himself. The relationship is said to have remained on good terms despite strong arguments. And Karina Milei ordered spokesman Manuel Adorni to call a press conference today to “show his face”, they said, for the consultant’s determination.