A Delegation of Thirteen Governors
Javier Milei will fly to France on Tuesday night accompanied by thirteen allied and dialogue-oriented governors for Argentina Week, an economic and investment forum. The delegation includes Jorge Macri of Buenos Aires City, Rolando Figueroa of Neuquén, Gustavo Sáenz of Salta, Rogelio Frigerio of Entre Ríos, Alfredo Cornejo of Mendoza, Leandro Zdero of Chaco, Juan Pablo Valdés of Corrientes, Raúl Jalil of Catamarca, Alberto Weretilneck of Río Negro, Carlos Sadir of Jujuy, Marcelo Orrego of San Juan, Claudio Vidal of Santa Cruz, and Ignacio Torres of Chubut. The visit is intended to signal federal support for the government's agenda.[S1]
The Paris edition follows the one held in New York from March 6 to 12. Unlike the U.S. event, the French edition will feature dialogues with energy, mining, and other industrial companies. The ambassador in Paris, Ian Sielecki, has worked on the convocation since early this year. Major European oil, agri-food, mining, and banking firms are expected to attend.[S1]
Notable Absences and Political Reading
Six governors identified with the Peronist opposition will not travel: Axel Kicillof of Buenos Aires, Ricardo Quintela of La Rioja, Gildo Insfrán of Formosa, Sergio Ziliotto of La Pampa, Gustavo Melella of Tierra del Fuego, and Elías Suárez of Santiago del Estero. Other governors who are often important for the government in key votes will also be absent: Osvaldo Jaldo of Tucumán, Maximiliano Pullaro of Santa Fe, Martín Llaryora of Córdoba, Hugo Passalacqua of Misiones, and Claudio Poggi of San Luis. The composition of the delegation is a selective picture of the federal map, reflecting the relationship the Casa Rosada wants to showcase.[S1]
The PASO Reform and Legislative Negotiation
The government plans to push an ambitious legislative agenda in the coming months, with the elimination of the PASO primaries as a central objective. Milei considers this reform a priority, but it will require support from provincial blocs, allied legislators, and dialogue-oriented sectors. La Libertad Avanza lacks the votes to approve such initiatives without prior negotiation with the governors, who influence provincial benches, senators, deputies, and leaders. The presence of the governors in Paris serves a dual purpose: showing political backing to European businessmen and the French government, and sending a signal of governability domestically amid talks over laws, resources, budget, public works, and reforms.[S1]
Productive Agenda and Bilateral with Macron
The visit will focus on investments, energy, mining, agroindustry, artificial intelligence, international trade, and legal security. Several represented provinces have direct interests in strategic sectors: Neuquén and Río Negro in energy through Vaca Muerta and gas projects; Catamarca, Jujuy, San Juan, Mendoza, and Salta in mining and lithium; Chubut and Santa Cruz in energy, hydrocarbons, and fishing; and Entre Ríos, Chaco, Corrientes, and Buenos Aires City in various productive and institutional profiles. Figueroa and Weretilneck will appear on the panel Argentinean Gas in the World Market alongside private-sector executives. Milei is also scheduled to meet with Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace on October 1, extending his international activity after the UN General Assembly, where he did not secure a meeting with Donald Trump and only held a bilateral with Benjamin Netanyahu.[S1][S2]
The Argentine delegation will include Karina Milei, Diego Santilli, Luis Caputo, Pablo Quirno, Federico Sturzenegger, Mario Lugones, Juan Bautista Mahiques, Santiago Bausili, Daniel González, Diego Sucalesca, and Fabián Fernández. The government also aims to send signals ahead of the 2027 budget debate and amid complex issues such as delinquency and disability. The risk country index has been rising and exceeds 550 points, adding economic complications. Ambassador Ian Sielecki, who has close ties to the French government and Macron, has been criticized by some in Buenos Aires for acting independently.[S2]
