From a young and successful businessman to an official in the Ministry of Economy, life Javier Cardini He seemed to be passing through calm waters, until months ago when audio recordings attributed to him Diego Spagnuolo It unleashed an alleged political and judicial scandal Bribery in the National Disability Agency (Andes) who finished his career as a public servant.
Cardini, according to official sources, is Minister of Economy Louis “Toto” Caputo I asked him to resign from the position of Undersecretary for Production Management last Thursday night, and he is involved – so far indirectly – in the case in which serious irregularities are being investigated at Andes.
A few days ago, the Justice Department raided the apartment they shared on Mexico Street Ornella Calvetdaughter of a businessman Miguel Angel Calvetis currently detained and charged by the public prosecutor Franco Picardi For his direct intervention in directing concessions and collecting bribes from companies in the health field. And part of it, according to the audio recordings attributed to Spagnuolo, the audio recordings that the former Andes director denies today, reached senior national officials, such as Karina Miley, Eduardo “Lolly” Menem and Martin Menem.
“It will be difficult for him to continue.”A voice from the ruling party mentioned the request for secrecy regarding Cardini, who, although not charged in the court case, appears mentioned in the Calvet forms seized by justice, forms in which the businessman indicated “collections and payments to pharmaceutical stores and companies in the sector,” according to the opinion of the Picardy public prosecutor.
In that raid on the San Telmo section, $700,000 US dollars were found Ornella Calvet – whom she met during her period of work in the public service – could not justify it, which led to her resignation, a few days ago, from the position of National Director for Regional and Sectoral Development in the Ministry of Economy, where she worked under orders from Cardini himself.
Without appointing the Minister of Trade and Industry, Cardini effectively responded to the Minister of Production, Pablo LavinWhich coordinates the areas of trade, industry, agriculture and small and medium enterprises. It was in the same range Fernando Blanco Moino (consumer defense), Carolina Cuenca (foreign trade), and Daniela RamosFormer official of the municipality of Tres de Febrero who heads Diego ValenzuelaWho today holds the position of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Industrial Policy.
Amid the secrecy and silence experienced by Casa Rosada, some sources attribute it to officials close to the presidential advisor. Santiago Caputo The necessary recommendation for his entry into the government, despite the advisor’s denial of this.
At the beginning of last week, when Ornella Calvet’s resignation became a reality, various officials categorically denied to this newspaper that Cardini would be removed from the government. “How are we going to blame him for what his father-in-law did?” A senior official source defended him, even though it was the Minister of Economy himself who asked him to resign a few days later.
On his resume — his name still appears Monday on the official organizational chart — his title appears as industrial engineer (UBA), following his teenage years at university. Champagnat School. It also says that he was Vice President of Operations at Green technology sciencean agricultural biotechnology company specializing in seed development.
Cardini was also associated with technology companies CEO of Grupo-Tek SAHe held the same position in QEV Argentina He was the general manager at Calandra. Also shown in his service record is his period as production manager at Quilmes Brewing and Brewing Factory And as a director “in a consulting company focusing on industrial production and mobility operations for small and medium-sized companies,” which he did not mention by name.
What goals did Cardini have to achieve at the Ministry of Economy? The first, according to the official website, was “to contribute to simplifying industrial regulations to reduce the bureaucratic burden and enhance flexibility in the industrial sector.” As well as “harmonizing standards and regulations related to industrial competitiveness to avoid unnecessary barriers.” Charge with High degree of interaction with the business worldtoday with several health service companies involved in this legal case.
Was Cardini aware of the actions of his partner and brother-in-law, or did he simply “renegade” because of his in-laws’ involvement in the corruption conspiracy in which justice was being served? Just in case, The government decided to block the roads and remove him from office. At the moment, the closure that Casa Rosada desires for a case that has moved again, with statements and judicial actions, after the government’s election victory, is still far away.