Argentina
The Senate Reopened Debate on Electoral Reform, but Differences Over the PASO and Ficha Limpia Persist
The Constitutional Affairs Committee resumed the debate after more than four months without progress and once again adjourned. The ruling party remains opposed to separating Ficha Limpia from the rest of the package, while allies and Peronism set out their own conditions.
The electoral reform promoted by the Government remains deadlocked in the Senate. In the Constitutional Affairs Committee, consideration resumed after more than four months without debate, but the meeting ended once again in an adjournment and without a new agreement.
According to Ámbito and Perfil, one of the main clashes again centered on the request by allied sectors to consider the Ficha Limpia bill separately. La Libertad Avanza rejected that possibility and maintained its intention to discuss the entire package together.
According to Perfil, the committee chair, Agustín Coto, again adjourned the debate without a date for resumption after a meeting lasting more than an hour. Ámbito also noted that the formal motion was not even put to a vote because there was not enough quorum in the committee.
The ruling party also maintains its position on the primaries. Ámbito reported that in La Libertad Avanza they continue to push to eliminate the PASO and rule out both a suspension and an optional scheme. However, Perfil reported that libertarian sources admitted that elimination would no longer be on the table and that the goal would now be suspension.
At the same time, the UCR and the PRO reaffirmed their intention to move forward with Ficha Limpia independently and seek a common text together with provincial blocs, including senators such as Edith Terenzi and Julieta Corroza, according to Ámbito. Perfil added that Martín Goerling Lara, Mariana Juri and Terenzi herself insisted on that approach during the meeting.
Peronism also took part in the discussion. According to both outlets, it presented or promoted the inclusion of a requirement for mandatory psychophysical and toxicological examinations for candidates.
The package under debate includes, in addition to Ficha Limpia and the PASO issue, changes to campaign financing, the elimination of the mandatory presidential candidates’ debate, amendments to the Single Paper Ballot, new endorsement requirements for candidacies and conditions for party validation, according to Ámbito.
On the political timetable, Ámbito said officials believe another committee meeting this month is possible. Perfil, meanwhile, reported that the Casa Rosada is already considering taking the decision to the 2027 extraordinary session period.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with assistance from artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not conduct its own reporting on this event.
