Senate in Flames: LLA Accelerates Sessions as Electoral Reform Bogs Down

The Senate is bracing for a turbulent week. This Thursday at 12 p.m., the Upper House will convene to discuss the bill on Inviolability of Private Property, six agreements for diplomatic appointments, 28 dossiers of candidates for judges, prosecutors, and defenders, and the declaration of Tucumán as the «symbolic capital of the Argentine Republic» every July 9. But the eye of the storm is the electoral reform, which Javier Milei’s government wants to push through and which, for now, is bogged down in negotiations with governors.

The Inviolability of Private Property law, promoted by the Minister of Deregulation and State Modernization, Federico Sturzenegger, proposes modifications to the Procedural Code and the Civil and Commercial Code, the Real Estate Registry, the Fire Management Law, and facilitates evictions and land purchases by foreigners. This point does not convince the ruling party’s allies, who are already negotiating changes to the wording. Meanwhile, Peronism announced it is working «senator by senator» to overturn the project.

Among the judicial appointments that will enter the chamber is the authorization for Víctor Pesino to continue as a member of Chamber VIII of the National Chamber of Appeals for Labor of the Federal Capital, as he will turn 75. The magistrate was questioned in the Agreements committee by Peronism due to his ruling in favor of labor reform.

For August 6, after the winter recess, the Senate plans another session in which the «Deadwood» bill, the «False Complaints» bill, and the Mental Health bill would be discussed. The first already has half-sanction from the Chamber of Deputies, while the latter still needs a committee opinion. The «false complaints» bill, promoted by UCR senator Carolina Losada, already has an opinion from the Justice and Criminal Affairs committee but has drawn repudiation from feminist and human rights organizations.

In the midst of these days, the Casa Rosada continues negotiations with allied blocs to push forward the electoral reform. Chief of Staff Diego Santilli has the mission of convincing governors, mainly those outside Peronism, to give the green light to their senators. Several governors already spoke out last week. Catamarca’s Raúl Jalil stated he is in favor of eliminating the PASO, but not the «colectoras» (allowing candidates to run under multiple party lists). Tucumán’s Osvaldo Jaldo also expressed support for maintaining the primaries.

The two dissident Peronist governors, along with Salta’s Gustavo Sáenz, lead the three-member Convicción Federal bloc. From that caucus, they indicated that the electoral reform is under analysis and they will wait for the governors’ conclusions before expressing a position. «Once they advance their discussions with the National Government, we will surely agree on a position,» they stated.

Meanwhile, the governor of Jujuy, Radical Carlos Sadir, warned that they consider the PASO a «good tool» and that the best option would be to suspend them for the 2025 legislative elections. The UCR has a bloc of ten senators key for the ruling party. Meanwhile, senator from the Frente Cívico por Santiago, Gerardo Zamora, protested: «The only thing that matters to the Government is re-election. They should focus on governing first and lifting the country, which is falling apart.»

Outside the negotiations, from the Popular inter-bloc, they watch the ruling party struggle to unblock negotiations with local leaders to eliminate the PASO. «I don’t see they have cohesion and a synthesis on the issue. They want to eliminate the PASO. For now, they don’t have the votes, but you never know,» reflected a voice from the inter-bloc.

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