--- type: politician_profile lang: en canonical: https://www.politicaelectoral.com/en/argentina/politicians/diego-santilli nombre: Diego César Santilli partido: pro generado: 2026-05-02T21:51:04 data_crc: 2f6aa0ae --- Diego César Santilli is an Argentine **PRO** politician and **Minister of the Interior** since 2025, with a long career in Buenos Aires politics. Born in 1967, he has moved through both city and national offices, building a profile as a pragmatic centre-right organiser and electoral operator. ## Political career Diego César Santilli was born in 1967 and developed his political career within the **Propuesta Republicana (PRO)**, the centre-right party that became one of the main pillars of Argentine non-Peronist politics in the 2010s and 2020s. His trajectory is closely tied to the political expansion of PRO in the **Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires**, where the party first consolidated executive power before extending its reach nationally. Santilli first held a major federal office as **National Senator for the City of Buenos Aires (2013–2015)**. That role placed him in the upper chamber during a period in which PRO was consolidating itself as a national opposition force ahead of the 2015 presidential cycle. He then became **Vicejefe of Government of the City of Buenos Aires (2015–2021)**, serving alongside the city’s chief executive in one of the most powerful municipal administrations in the country. In that position, he was part of the team that managed Buenos Aires during the administrations associated with PRO’s urban governance model, which emphasised public management, security, transport and administrative modernisation. After six years in the city executive, Santilli moved to the lower house of Congress, becoming **National Deputy for Buenos Aires (2021–2025)**. This national legislative role gave him a broader platform during a period of strong political polarisation and economic instability in Argentina. As a deputy, he remained associated with the more institutional and negotiation-oriented wing of PRO. In **2025**, he was appointed **Minister of the Interior**, a central post in the national executive responsible for relations with provincial governments, political coordination and key administrative links between the federal state and the provinces. The appointment reflected his reputation as a politician experienced in coalition-building, institutional negotiation and managing territorial politics. ## Relationship with the public Santilli has generally cultivated the image of a **practical, approachable and media-savvy politician**, more focused on management than ideological confrontation. In Buenos Aires, he became a familiar public figure through his long tenure in city government, where his profile benefited from the visibility of PRO’s emphasis on urban governance and orderly administration. His relationship with the electorate has often been shaped by his positioning as a **campaign-friendly and vote-catching figure**, especially in middle-class urban districts of Buenos Aires. He has tended to appeal to voters who favour efficiency, public security and a less confrontational style than that associated with some other Argentine leaders. This has made him valuable both as a candidate and as a communicator. Within civil society and the media, Santilli is often seen as a **consensual interlocutor** rather than a polemical one. He has usually projected moderation and tactical flexibility, which has helped him retain relevance across changing political contexts. At the same time, critics sometimes view him as part of the establishment politics of Buenos Aires, benefiting from the visibility and machinery of PRO administrations. ## Positions and political profile Santilli is identified with **centre-right, pro-administration politics** inside PRO. His public profile has been associated with **public management, security, urban order and institutional coordination**, rather than with doctrinal debates. He is commonly perceived as one of PRO’s more pragmatic figures, capable of dealing with both party politics and executive administration. Inside his party, he is often seen as a **seasoned operator with territorial experience**, especially in Buenos Aires politics. That experience has made him useful in election strategy and governance, and it has also given him credibility in negotiations with other political actors. He has generally belonged to the more pragmatic and less ideological current within the non-Peronist camp. Key moments in his career include his move from the Senate to Buenos Aires city government in 2015, which linked him to one of PRO’s most important power bases, and his later transition to the National Chamber of Deputies in 2021, where he maintained national visibility. His 2025 appointment as Minister of the Interior is significant because it places him at the centre of federal political management, an area that requires balancing relations with governors, provincial blocs and congressional actors. Santilli’s public identity is also shaped by his role as a **professional politician with strong Buenos Aires credentials**. He is not usually associated with a highly ideological agenda; rather, he is perceived as someone whose political capital rests on administration, alliances and electoral competitiveness. This makes him important in contexts where the government needs negotiation, coordination and a degree of political adaptability. ## Frequently asked questions **Who is Diego César Santilli?** He is an Argentine politician from **PRO** who has served in the Senate, the Buenos Aires city government, the national Chamber of Deputies and, since 2025, as **Minister of the Interior**. **What party does Diego César Santilli belong to?** He belongs to **Propuesta Republicana (PRO)**, the centre-right party associated with the broader Juntos por el Cambio political space in earlier years. **What is Diego César Santilli’s current role?** Since **2025**, he has been **Minister of the Interior** of Argentina, a strategic post handling relations with provinces and political coordination. **What roles has Diego César Santilli held before becoming Minister of the Interior?** He was **National Deputy for Buenos Aires (2021–2025)**, **Vicejefe of Government of the City of Buenos Aires (2015–2021)** and **National Senator for the City of Buenos Aires (2013–2015)**. **How is Diego César Santilli generally perceived politically?** He is usually seen as a **pragmatic, moderate and management-oriented** PRO leader, with strong ties to Buenos Aires politics and a reputation for electoral and institutional skill. **What is Diego César Santilli known for within Argentine politics?** He is known for his long association with Buenos Aires public administration, his ability to operate across legislative and executive roles, and his role as a **useful bridge figure** in negotiations and coalition politics.