The Córdoba mayor aligned with Kirchnerism criticized Milei for the fiscal adjustment and called for 'a surplus with social justice.'
During the meeting, Passerini highlighted that his municipality supposedly achieved a fiscal surplus without damaging the social fabric. "Zero deficit, but not at the expense of the people," he said. What he did not mention is that this balance coexists with a more bloated political staff than in previous years.
Since taking office, he has increased agencies, departments, and offices that have no concrete impact on the quality of life of residents. Political spending continues to grow while the city faces structural problems without visible solutions. Examples of this are the growing wave of insecurity in the face of municipal inaction or the legitimization of the "trapitos" mafia.
Far from making adjustments as he demands of others, Córdoba keeps an oversized structure. Thus, it is perceived as functional to the internal distribution of power. This weakens any discourse on social justice sustained by the municipality, as it is disconnected from practice.
Passerini also targeted the Nation for the distribution of resources. "It is a state that is too federal to collect and unitary to distribute." The demagogic claim loses all strength and credibility when it is made by someone who increased his own local bureaucracy.
Meanwhile, while the Nation demands cutting taxes and useless structures, the municipality of Córdoba continues to finance agencies with no concrete impact. Instead of reducing expenses, it keeps a heavy and clientelist system, with high cost and low social results.
The mayor asks for more funds without showing any willingness to make his own cuts. He demands fairness from a municipality that has not set an example in terms of efficient spending. His criticism is blurred in the face of a national administration that has begun to show concrete results, that is, in the face of a reality that every Kirchnerist detests.
The pro-Kirchnerist mayor of Córdoba, Daniel Passerini, criticized the national government during an event in Santiago del Estero. This took place within the framework of the 4th Smart City Expo World Congress, where he participated in a panel of mayors. There, Passerini strongly questioned the national government, arguing that Milei's economic decisions "are cruel" and generate a "deeply dehumanizing" adjustment.
He also stated that Argentina needs "fiscal surplus with social surplus" and questioned the fact that the adjustment affects retirees and people with disabilities. The statements coincided just as the national government transferred the money for Córdoba's pension fund and released new social data. These figures show a historic drop in poverty and extreme poverty.
According to the Ministry of Human Capital, poverty fell from 54.8% to 31.7% between the first quarters of 2024 and 2025. Extreme poverty dropped from 20.2% to 7.3%. These are figures from the National Council for the Coordination of Social Policies based on INDEC.
The national government highlighted that the peak of poverty occurred during the first quarter of 2024. It was the result of the economic legacy. From that point on, the new libertarian direction showed signs of effectiveness with fiscal discipline and a reduction in welfare spending.
In this context, Passerini's claim about an alleged "dehumanization" of the adjustment contrasts with the official social data. Meanwhile, while the Nation reduces unproductive spending, the municipality of Córdoba expands its political structure with positions that have no concrete function.
The mayor keeps structures that offer no real value to the community. Many are perceived as spaces for activists and allies of the ruling party. This expansion not only weakens his criticism of the national government, but also contradicts his discourse on efficiency and social sensitivity.
