The government is shifting between claims of a coup attempt and a strong electoral strategy. President Javier Milei appeared smiling alongside key political figures and potential candidates in Buenos Aires City and Province, including José Luis Espert, Patricia Bullrich, and Manuel Adorni. Meanwhile, official and unofficial La Libertad Avanza (LLA) social media accounts flooded platforms with campaign-style content, featuring smiles, epic music, and direct public engagement.

Government Concerns Over Potential New Protests

At Casa Rosada, concern is growing. After last Wednesday’s riots and destruction, officials fear even worse disturbances in downtown Buenos Aires in the coming week, allegedly orchestrated by Kirchnerism.

Confirming Milei’s canceled trip to Spain, government sources revealed that his decision was indeed based on the attempted coup allegations rather than any other excuse.

“We faced an attempted coup. They want to throw bodies at us,” a close aide to Karina Milei stated when asked about the official reasoning behind the President’s cancellation.

Expoagro: A De Facto Campaign Event

Despite these tensions, Milei appeared in high spirits during his visit to the rural exhibition Expoagro. Government media channels and ministry spokespeople widely circulated images of the President with potential candidates, strengthening his electoral narrative.

• José Luis Espert is almost confirmed as the top candidate for Buenos Aires Province, despite opposition from Karina Milei, who lost the internal battle over his inclusion.
• Manuel Adorni is still undecided—he may run for Buenos Aires City or join the national list.
• Patricia Bullrich, while not yet officially a candidate, is expected to play a key role in supporting the party’s electoral strategy.

With only two weeks left before alliances close in Buenos Aires City and months before national nominations (August), Friday’s event had a strong campaign atmosphere.

Milei’s Strategic Messaging

A heavily produced campaign-style video of Milei’s Expoagro visit circulated online, featuring dramatic orchestral music from Conquest of Paradise by Vangelis. The video mirrored the daily propaganda-style content seen in LLA’s digital presence, sometimes even AI-generated.

Additionally, Milei, Adorni, Bullrich, and Espert shared posed photos with the President. Though none officially confirmed their candidacies, their confident and unified presentation strongly suggested their electoral intentions.

Addressing the Criticism Over Bahía Blanca and the Congress Clashes

The Expoagro event was Milei’s first public appearance since criticism arose over his delayed visit to Bahía Blanca and the violent clashes outside Congress.

• His government blamed football hooligans and infiltrators for the Congress riots, while the opposition accused the administration of staging chaos to discredit pension protests.
• Addressing the Bahía Blanca controversy, Milei justified his absence during the worst hours of the disaster:

“I stayed in Buenos Aires to save more lives.”

This contradicted earlier reports from his inner circle, which admitted he avoided traveling to evade potential protests.

• Interestingly, Milei criticized politicians who visit disaster zones merely for photo opportunities—yet he stood alongside Espert, who had been photographed in Bahía Blanca with Bullrich, drawing opposition backlash.

Strengthening Bullrich and the Security Narrative

The Expoagro speech also served as a strong endorsement of Patricia Bullrich’s leadership and the police response to the Congress riots. Milei praised her handling of security, reinforcing her public approval ratings.

Additionally, he echoed an infamous phrase used by his advisor, Santiago Caputo, on social media:

“The good guys wear blue, and the bastards who destroy cars are the bad guys.”

Milei’s Double Game: Campaign Mode vs. Crisis Management

Milei’s Expoagro appearance showed a duality in his government’s strategy:

1. Crisis Mode – Warning about a potential coup and alleged orchestrated street violence.
2. Campaign Mode – Presenting a confident, smiling leader surrounded by potential candidates.

As the government navigates growing social unrest, Milei is also laying the groundwork for an electoral battle, strategically using media and public appearances to maintain dominance in the political arena.