Justiz: Verfahren gegen Argentiniens Präsidenten Milei eingestellt

Buenos Aires - Argentina's judiciary has discontinued proceedings against President Javier Milei regarding accusations of involvement in a cryptocurrency scandal. The incidents did not constitute a criminal offense, explained Chief Federal Judge Marcelo Martínez de Giorgi. Milei faced criticism the previous year for promoting the $LIBRA cryptocurrency on social media, whose value plummeted shortly after.

Investors reportedly lost over 200 million US dollars. Opposition parties had called for an impeachment process. The president had tweeted about $LIBRA on the platform X and then deleted it later, stating he was unaware of the project's details and decided not to endorse it after learning about it. Critics argued Milei engaged in a "rug pull" - a fraudulent scheme in the crypto world.

However, the judge found insufficient evidence to charge Milei with fraud, abuse of office, or other actions incompatible with his public duties. Milei's sister Karina, who serves as General Secretary of the Presidential Office, and other individuals were also investigated. President Milei, who turned 56 upon learning of the decision, criticized the proceedings as a "massive political and media operation aimed at damaging the presidency for political, coup-like reasons."

The judiciary claimed to have restored order. Milei rhetorically asked on X, "Who will compensate me for a year, eight months, and nine days of lies, defamation, and insults?" Opposition criticism remains strong, with the left-leaning youth organization "La Cámpora" accusing the justice system of being controlled by a mafia serving the ruling power, referring to Milei's former predecessor Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, currently under house arrest due to corruption charges.