‘Ficha Limpia’ falls – Senate rejects anti-corruption bill by one vote

Argentina’s Senate has voted down the so-called ‘Ficha Limpia’ (“Clean Record”) bill, which would have barred candidates with corruption convictions from running for national office.

The proposal, aimed at individuals convicted in the second instance of graft charges, was seen as a direct threat to former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, given it would have blocked her from standing for office.

Thirty-seven votes, an absolute majority, were needed for approval. The vote was 36 in favour to 35 against, after more than 10 hours of debate and 36 speeches.

The bill had been approved by the lower house Chamber of Deputies in February.

At face value, the rejection is a blow for President Javier Milei, who immediately took to social media to vent his anger at the result.

“Pathetic. The end,” Milei posted on X afterwards, alongside a graphic showing the vote breakdown.

Milei has repeatedly attempted to publicly shame lawmakers who refuse to support his agenda.

“President Javier G. Milei abhors the attitude of national senators who have chosen to prioritise their personal and party interests over the demands of the people they claim to represent,” read an accompanying statement from his office.

Benefits

Some voices have suggested that keeping Fernández de Kirchner – widely seen as the main opposition voice in her role as chair of the Partido Justicialista – in play could ultimately benefit Milei in future elections.

The government’s handling of the proposal has raised eyebrows. After initially stalling a version of the bill promoted by PRO deputy Silvia Lospennato in the lower house, Milei had promised to introduce a “better” one – suggesting tensions not only with the opposition but within his broader political coalition.

Some lawmakers, including Unión Cívica Radical (UCR) deputy Facundo Manes, went as far as to accuse Milei’s La Libertad Avanza of colluding with Kirchnerism to block the measure.

Suspicions have circulated that an agreement has been made between the two camps.

In the run-up to the vote, the La Libertad Avanza leader had publicly backed the bill, but he also warned of “republican nerds” potentially pulling off “a dirty trick” in Congress, fuelling speculation.

That dissent appeared to materialise when two senators from the Misiones-based provincial party of Frente Renovador de la Concordia, Carlos Arce and Sonia Rojas Decut – both normally government allies – unexpectedly voted against the bill. 

Neither lawmaker explained their decision during the marathon session, despite previously backing Milei’s legislative agenda.

The pair have a history of avoiding the press, preferring to make their political positions known only through their votes.

Carlos Rovira, former governor and leader of the ruling political machine in Misiones, had previously blocked a similar anti-corruption measure in his own province in 2020. His influence over the two senators was seen as decisive.

‘Lawfare’

Opposition lawmakers described the bill as an example of “lawfare” and portrayed it as an attempt to sideline the Milei government’s most prominent critic.

In November, the Federal Court of Criminal Cassation upheld a first-instance ruling sentencing Fernández de Kirchner to six years in prison and a lifetime ban from politics for the crime of “fraudulent administration.”

Even if the Supreme Court upholds the sentence, she would not serve prison time due to her age, as those aged over 70 are eligible for house arrest.

The former president, who served two terms from 2007 to 2015, denies all corruption allegations and says she is the victim of a campaign of political and judicial persecution.

Peronist senator Carlos Linares celebrated the outcome in a post online. “She’s coming back, and we’ll be there with her,” he wrote, alongside a photo of Fernández de Kirchner smiling.

Kirchnerite loyalist Eduardo ‘Wado’ de Pedro said during the debate that the bill was clearly aimed at his political mentor. “Since they can’t beat her at the ballot-box, they want to force her out of the game,” he said.

Future unclear

Despite the congressional drama, it remains unclear if Fernández de Kirchner will run for office in the October midterm elections, when Argentines vote to renew Congress.

The 72-year-old former head of state, widely regarded as Milei’s main opposition rival, is currently polling between 25 and 30 percent, according to recent surveys.

While loyal supporters want her to take on Milei more directly, Fernández de Kirchner has mostly stayed out of the political front line following an unsuccessful spell as vice-president in Alberto Fernández’s 2019–2023 government.

She declined to run in 2023 and, for now, has confined herself to critical posts on social media targeting Milei and his economic team.

Given its failure in Congress, the ‘Ficha Limpia’ bill cannot be debated again until the next legislative session in 2026.

– TIMES/NA/PERFIL/AFP