Argentina's central bank has failed to provide details about a surplus of 4 trillion pesos in government accounts, according to a report by Perfil published on Sunday.
The discrepancy relates to funds held in Treasury accounts that have not been fully accounted for by the monetary authority. Perfil reports that the bank could not offer precise explanations regarding the origin or nature of the surplus amount.
The report adds to growing scrutiny over the management of public finances under the administration of President Javier Milei. Other Argentine outlets, including La Política Online and Urgente24, have also covered the issue, with La Política Online quoting Central Bank President Santiago Bausili as saying the funds "are somewhere" without specifying where.
The surplus has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures. Aníbal Fernández, a former official, described the situation as "how you steal a GDP and a country," according to El Intransigente. The remark reflects the political sensitivity of the matter, though no formal allegations of wrongdoing have been confirmed in the reports cited.
Context from Infobae adds that Treasury deposits rose by nearly USD 800 million around the time of a debt maturity with the International Monetary Fund, though the report does not link this directly to the surplus in question.
The central bank's inability to clarify the discrepancy comes as Argentina continues to navigate a fragile economic recovery, with inflation and fiscal deficits remaining key concerns for investors and international creditors.
What to watch next: Whether the central bank or the Treasury provides a formal explanation for the surplus, and how opposition lawmakers respond in Congress.
