<h1>President defends administration after leaked audio alleges kickback scheme benefiting his sister; dismissal, probe, political fallout</h1> The president defended his administration after leaked audio purportedly showed a former disability agency director discussing a kickback scheme that allegedly benefited the president's sister and other close associates, prompting the director's dismissal and a prosecutor investigation with no charges yet. The president accused political opponents of a smear campaign and urged judicial clarification, while the scandal threatens his party's standing ahead of upcoming provincial and national elections and compounds political pressure amid slowing growth, dwindling reserves and stagnant real wages.