Argentina
The ruling coalition returns to debate political reform in the Senate and seeks support to reach a majority
La Libertad Avanza will resume committee consideration this Tuesday of the initiative promoted by the Executive Branch. Among other changes, the bill proposes eliminating the PASO, modifying party financing and adding Ficha Limpia.
La Libertad Avanza will resume the debate on the political reform promoted by the Executive Branch this Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in the Senate, although it still does not have the votes needed to turn it into law, according to Todo Noticias.
The initiative includes the elimination of the PASO, changes to party financing, modifications to the Boleta Única de Papel and the incorporation of Ficha Limpia. According to that outlet, Fuegian senator Agustín Coto, chair of the Constitutional Affairs Committee, added to the agenda bills on Ficha Limpia presented by Martín Goerling Lara and Andrea Cristina, of the PRO, as well as a proposal by Edith Terenzi. There was also a similar initiative promoted by Eduardo Vischi.
According to Todo Noticias, the ruling coalition needs 37 votes in the upper chamber to move forward with the reform, a figure that far exceeds its 21 seats. For that reason, talks are focused on the PRO, the UCR and agreements with provincial governors.
The outlet noted that Diego Santilli maintains contact with provincial leaders, while PRO figures are also speaking with the ruling coalition, although they have not yet guaranteed the full backing of their bloc. In that space, Martín Goerling Lara expressed his rejection of eliminating the PASO and proposed making them optional instead.
In the UCR, which has ten senators, there are also lawmakers who could prove decisive. Todo Noticias indicated that several answer politically to governors, while others maintain more autonomous positions. In Santa Fe, Carolina Losada and Eduardo Galaretto take Governor Maximiliano Pullaro as their reference, and he is in favor of keeping the primaries.
The PRO Ficha Limpia bill, presented by Goerling Lara and Andrea Cristina, establishes disqualification from running for office in cases of confirmed convictions for intentional crimes linked to public administration. Among the offenses covered are fraud against public administration, bribery, embezzlement of funds, incompatible negotiations with public office, illicit enrichment and concealment, among others, always according to Todo Noticias.
The reform sent by the Executive also raises the requirements to retain recognition of parties at the national and district levels. In addition, it stipulates that those seeking the presidency must gather endorsements equivalent to 0.1% of the electoral roll, while those competing for national legislative seats will be required to obtain 0.5% of the roll in each district.
According to Todo Noticias, the proposal eliminates state campaign financing, raises the cap on private contributions for each party or alliance from 2% to 35% and leaves the Fondo Partidario Permanente as the only public contribution. It also abolishes free advertising in the media and the mandatory debate between presidential candidates.
Another of the changes contemplated in the text is the end of the direct election of Argentine representatives to the Mercosur Parliament. In its place, they would be appointed by Congress according to the proportional representation of each political force.
Todo Noticias also recalled that the Constitution requires an absolute majority of the total membership of each chamber to approve changes to the electoral and political parties system: 129 votes in the Chamber of Deputies and 37 in the Senate. In that context, negotiations with governors and allied blocs appear to be the key to determining whether the bill advances.
Sources
Sobre esta nota. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.
