The PRO party has issued a harsh critique of the government: a surprising decision made by Macri that has further widened the differences between him and Milei.

Javier Milei, Mauricio Macri, and Patricia Bullrich. Mauricio Macri made a politically significant and surprising decision, even for key figures within the PRO party: he personally spearheaded the dissemination of a critical manifesto against the government of Javier Milei, without prior consultation with governors, parliamentary leaders, or the party's executive committee. This move, occurring amidst the political fallout from the Manuel Adorni case, deepened the rift between the former president and the presidential palace and highlighted internal tensions within the PRO regarding its relationship with La Libertad Avanza. The process of creating the document reveals the level of secrecy surrounding the initiative. "It was 100% Mauricio," a high-ranking PRO source told Infobae. "He didn't speak to Jorge Macri, Rogelio Frigerio, Cristian Ritondo, or Guillermo Montenegro. He didn't talk to anyone on the executive committee." The "Next Step" manifesto was released on Sunday afternoon through the official PRO social media channels and quickly sparked political interpretations suggesting a hardening of Mauricio Macri's stance towards the government. The text included criticisms of the government's internal operations and aimed to differentiate itself from the libertarian political style. "Supporting change does not mean applauding what is wrong," the document stated. It also included a definition interpreted as a direct reference to the presidential palace: "Change has two enemies: the usual populism... and those who hinder change from within, with arrogance or by demanding sacrifices they are not willing to make." Macri's decision to take this position occurred during a particularly sensitive time for the government, as it faced its first significant political challenges since achieving economic stability. The manifesto appeared in this context, drawing on historical concepts of the PRO's political identity related to public administration and infrastructure. "The next step is more roads, more hospitals, better education," the text stated, aiming to re-emphasize a focus on concrete results rather than constant confrontation. At the same time, the manifesto criticized the government's political methods, highlighting the "arrogance" and "hubris" that exist within certain circles of La Libertad Avanza. The surprise caused by the document was publicly reflected hours later in statements by Jorge Macri. The head of the Buenos Aires government admitted on TN that he was unaware of the manifesto's existence until minutes before appearing on the show. "I didn't know. I found out on my way here," he said when shown the text. Jorge Macri explained that no one had sent him the document beforehand and that he only read it on his phone on the way to the studio. This confirmed the level of secrecy with which Mauricio Macri handled the initiative. However, the head of government avoided directly challenging the political content of the manifesto. Instead, he validated much of the diagnosis presented in the document. "I think it expresses what some Argentinians feel," he said. However, he also hinted at differences regarding the timing of the criticism of the government. "Later, we can discuss whether it was appropriate to release a statement of that kind," he said. This phrase was interpreted within the PRO as a signal of caution regarding the possibility of prematurely escalating the conflict with Milei. Jorge Macri shares some of the concerns within the party about the relationship with La Libertad Avanza, but he also believes that an open break could affect the electorate that still supports the government's economic policies. Therefore, throughout the interview, he attempted to maintain an intermediate position: asserting a distinct identity without breaking with the presidential palace. "We are not part of La Libertad Avanza," he stated. And when asked whether the two parties would compete together in the next elections, he replied, "I don't know. There's still a lot to go." This response reflected the ambiguous moment the relationship between the PRO and the government is experiencing. A significant portion of the party continues to support key aspects of Milei's economic program, particularly fiscal balance and inflation reduction. However, around Mauricio Macri, a different discussion is emerging: how far to support the government without losing its own political identity. In this context, the former president's decision to personally promote the manifesto without prior party discussion was interpreted as a clear signal, both internally and externally, within the PRO. It was not a formal break with Milei, nor a move to the hard opposition. But it was a deliberate political intervention by Mauricio Macri, orchestrated by his closest advisors, designed to begin to differentiate himself from the government at a time when the presidential palace is facing its first significant political tensions since achieving economic stability.