Without consensus, the Milei Government will desist from advancing with the electoral reform

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The second day of debate on the “omnibus law” in the Chamber of Deputies left bad news for the ruling party. The entire opposition questioned the electoral reform included in the project and the Government will desist from moving forward now with these changes (which require a special majority of 129 votes) so as not to jeopardize the sanction of the norm.

“If the votes are not there for the electoral reform, that will not hinder the treatment of the law,” said the Minister of the Interior, Guillermo Francos, when participating in the plenary session of the General Legislation, Constitutional Affairs and Budget commissions. “Of all the issues of the law, today is the one that can come out the most,” another source from La Libertad Avanza admitted to this medium.

Criticism rained down not only from Unión por la Patria, but also from the PRO, the UCR and We Make the Federal Coalition, three opposition blocs that are predisposed to facilitate the law but want to influence the content. They all demanded that the debate be postponed to the ordinary sessions, starting in March.

“I take away all the concerns that were raised. Surely we will have to discuss between what is necessary and what is appropriate and see what is the area in which we can advance,” said Francos, who withdrew from Annex C amid shouts from deputy Leandro Santoro (Unión por la Patria), who accused him of abandoning the meeting “to go to lunch.”

In the electoral chapter, the project proposes ending the PASO (Open, Simultaneous and Mandatory Primaries) and modifying the financing system of political parties, eliminating the limits on private donations and the maximum limit on campaign expenses, in addition to reduce the state contribution.

Likewise, the number of national deputies is updated according to the 2022 Census. For the election, it is sought to implement a system of single-member constituencies that would replace the current system of proportional distribution of seats.

“What does an electoral reform do in this omnibus law? Without debate, without participation, without listening to anyone, without specialists. That’s what regular sessions are for. “These issues have never been discussed in extraordinary meetings,” said Germán Martínez, head of the Unión por la Patria bloc, and insisted: “This is not the time. Let’s discuss it in depth. “Don’t put a gag on Congress.”

Margarita Stolbizer (We Make the Federal Coalition) agreed that the issue “does not constitute the level of priority that Argentina is experiencing today,” while from the PRO, Silvia Lospennato also asked to postpone the discussion until March, and also added fundamental questions to the system. uninominal, by warning about the risks for the representation of the provinces and minorities.

Rodrigo De Loredo, head of the radical bloc, was blunt: “Who advised you to bring these things at this time and with these emergencies?” The man from Córdoba emphasized: “We are going to give the Government the most urgent tools to get out of this economically fragile context, that is why we ask that the Government prioritize, focus, and be attentive to the progress of the economy.”

Bullrich and social protest

In the second part of the plenary session, the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, announced that they will withdraw from the project the controversial article 331, which defined a social demonstration as an “intentional and temporary congregation of three or more people in public space.” She said that there was a “misinterpretation” and that this article was “linked to the Traffic Law,” but given the “confusion” they decided to eliminate it.

The minister defended the new sanctions for picketing, which include harsher prison sentences for both protesters and organizers. She specified, according to private indices, that between 2009 and 2023 there were “85,200 pickets.”

The project establishes that the Ministry of Security must be notified of the protest at least 48 hours in advance, which may oppose or modify the day and place. “You can protest all you want, what you cannot do is block the street,” Bullrich stated in a debate with several intersections with the opposition.

In addition, he confirmed that they will promote a new Juvenile Criminal Regime and the lowering of the age of imputability.

Cafiero scandal

The plenary continued with the presentation of the secretaries of the economic portfolio Eduardo Rodríguez Chirillo (Energy), Pablo Quirno (Finance), Pablo Lavigne (Commerce) and Fernando Vilella (Agriculture). Among the main definitions, Rodríguez Chirillo announced that the segment of the project linked to biofuels will be modified.

The meeting was going on normally until, late at night, it was on the verge of getting out of hand when José Luis Espert, who was presiding over the plenary session at that time, cut off the microphone of deputy Santiago Cafiero. The former chancellor stood up from his seat and walked towards the head of the table in a threatening gesture, shouting for him to speak.