Senate: Session Begins to Allow Land Sales to Foreigners, with Tight Numbers and Fierce Internal Strife

The hangover from Argentina’s victory over England in the 2026 World Cup did not halt the government’s plans. The ruling party, with the support of the dialoguing opposition, managed to open the Senate floor to debate the bill on inviolability of private property, which includes the controversial chapter enabling land sales to foreigners.

The session began just after 12:25 p.m. with a bare quorum: only 3 senators present, contributed by the libertarian bloc, the UCR, Pro, and provincial forces such as Neuquén, Salta, and Misiones, as well as dissident Peronists from Convicción Federal.

The pre-session atmosphere was marked by a bitter internal dispute between Vice President Victoria Villarruel and the head of the libertarian bloc, Patricia Bullrich. The private tension threatens to complicate the debate, although Bullrich is confident about the numbers. However, they are so tight that any absence could sink the initiative.

The agenda includes more than 30 judicial nominations promoted by Justice Minister Juan Bautista Mahiques. Among the candidates is Tomás Rodríguez Ponte, former secretary of federal judge Ariel Lijo, proposed for the strategic Federal Court No. 2 of Lomas de Zamora, which investigates Martín Insaurralde and Jesica Cirio. Also included is Víctor Pesino, the appeals court judge who endorsed the labor reform and for whom Javier Milei requests a five-year extension of his magistracy, despite being close to 75.

Additionally, with the opening of the debate, the nominations of Pablo Yadarola and Pablo Bertuzzi as members of the Federal Chamber of the capital, based in Comodoro Py, are taken up for consideration.

But what generates the most uncertainty are the changes to the private property bill. Sixteen versions of the opinion have already been drafted, and modifications will have to be made on the floor during the specific debate. A sloppiness that could complicate the session.

For now, the ruling party counts on the support of dissident Peronists from Convicción Federal, who answer to governors Osvaldo Jaldo (Tucumán), Raúl Jalil (Catamarca), and Gustavo Sáenz (Salta). Also with the vote of Julieta Corroza (Neuquén), aligned with Rolando Figueroa. But an alarm was raised due to strong pressure on senators from Encuentro Misionero, Carlos Arce and Sonia Rojas Decut, to vote against.

The initiative, crafted by Minister Federico Sturzenegger, modifies the judicial eviction regime and the Land and Fire Management laws. In its latest version, it enables the sale of rural land without limits to foreign individuals, although it requires provincial and national authorization when foreign states have a stake in the share capital. The current law limits foreign ownership to 15% at each level and by nationality.

The ruling party defends the project and assures that it prohibits other states from buying land. “One thing is private investment, and quite another is a foreign state encroaching on the property of our territory,” they argue. They also highlight the “double control” at the national and provincial levels. “It is not enough to have the opinion of an official sitting at a desk in Buenos Aires; what matters is the opinion of those who know the territory,” they add.

Regarding evictions, the government gave up its idea of a summary trial. The final text establishes a 10-business-day notice period (down from the original 3) and adds protections for minors, disabled persons, and the elderly before executing an eviction.

The session promises to be long and tight. The ruling party needs to maintain discipline and avoid last-minute surprises. With the numbers so close, any deviation could be fatal.

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