Argentina’s National Electoral Chamber has ruled that Diego Santilli will head La Libertad Avanza’s (LLA) list of candidates for the lower house in Buenos Aires Province in the October 26 midterms, overturning an earlier ruling.
The judges based their decision on gender parity legislation, saying the replacement for José Luis Espert – who resigned his candidacy last weekend – must be of the same gender as the outgoing candidate, in this case, a man.
A previous ruling had left Karen Reichardt, the actor and TV presenter turned politician at the top of the slate of candidates. Following the electoral court’s ruling, she now returns to the second slot.
Milei had sought to insert Santilli, an experienced lawmaker and former deputy mayor of Buenos Aires City, after Espert’s candidacy collapsed in scandal.
Espert withdrew from running amid media speculation over his links to a suspected drug-trafficker and fraudster who is awaited extradition to the United States to face criminal charges.
The judges of the National Electoral Chamber sharply criticised federal judge Alejo Ramos Padilla for issuing a previous ruling they described as “subjective,” declaring the legislation unconstitutional without sufficient grounds. It also reproached him for disregarding established case law and misapplying a previous ruling that concerned Senate candidates.
Reaffirming its role in ensuring genuine gender equality in access to elective office, the court recalled past decisions that had consistently favoured female representation on electoral lists when conflicts arose.
Following the ruling, Santilli – a PRO lawmaker who has jumped onboard with his party’s alignment with La Libertad Avanza for the midterms –thanked President Javier Milei for his trust and pledged to push forward the administration’s reform agenda.
“It is an honour to lead La Libertad Avanza’s Buenos Aires list for the Chamber of Deputies and to be part of the team that will drive the reforms needed to consolidate what has been achieved and secure what still lies ahead,” he wrote in a post on social media.
He concluded his message with a promise echoing the government’s rhetoric: “The effort and sacrifice made by Argentines over these past two years will be worth it.”
– TIMES/NA
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