Argentina
The ruling coalition again stalled the political reform in committee while seeking support in the Senate
The debate in Constitutional Affairs was once again sent to a recess and still has no date for resumption. La Libertad Avanza needs agreements with opposition blocs and governors to secure the special majority required for an electoral reform.
The Senate’s Constitutional Affairs Committee once again interrupted consideration of the political reform promoted by the Government. In a brief meeting chaired by Agustín Coto, the ruling coalition requested another recess, without setting a date to resume the debate.
According to Todo Noticias, the Casa Rosada is seeking to gather the votes needed to move forward with an initiative that includes eliminating the PASO, changes to party financing, modifications to the Boleta Única de Papel and the incorporation of Ficha Limpia. According to that outlet, the negotiations are taking place outside Congress and include Chief of Staff Diego Santilli and the Government’s political table, headed by Karina Milei.
The president of the ruling bloc, Patricia Bullrich, said during the meeting that an electoral reform requires a special majority and argued that this type of change must emerge from broad agreements. Both Todo Noticias and La Nación noted that the ruling coalition does not currently have enough support to approve the elimination of the PASO, one of the central points of the bill.
Todo Noticias indicated that La Libertad Avanza needs 37 votes in the Senate, well above its 21 seats, which is why it is focusing its efforts on the PRO, the UCR and governors. La Nación added that the rest of the political forces backed the recess without visible objections.
Among the points in the bill, Todo Noticias detailed that the requirements to retain recognition as political parties are also being raised, new endorsement requirements for candidacies are being established, state funding for campaigns is being eliminated, the percentage of permitted private contributions is being expanded, and free advertising in the media and the mandatory debate for presidential candidates are being removed. In addition, it proposes that Argentine representatives to the Mercosur Parliament stop being elected by direct vote and instead be appointed by Congress according to each force’s representation.
During the meeting, allies of the ruling coalition called for Ficha Limpia to be discussed separately. Martín Goerling Lara asked that those bills not be tied to the rest of the reform, a position that was also supported by interventions from other senators. La Nación noted that Mariana Juri considered it a good sign that the issue had returned to debate and recalled that the Senate had come close to turning it into law.
On that section, the proposal establishes that those with a confirmed conviction at second instance for intentional crimes will not be able to run for elected office. Todo Noticias added that there are also initiatives from other lawmakers with specific scopes regarding the crimes covered and requirements such as the submission of the Criminal Record Certificate when registering slates.
From Peronism, they also supported the new recess. Jorge Capitanich said, according to Todo Noticias, that this is a crucial debate. That outlet also reported a warning from José Neder about party financing: he said that if parties are left to seek resources on their own, risks arise linked to conditioned contributions.
La Nación added that Kirchnerism maintains reservations both about eliminating the PASO and about the possibility of discussing Ficha Limpia outside the general reform package.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do its own reporting on this event.
