President Javier Milei’s government says Argentina’s Supreme Court will have five members as of March 1, 2025, come what may, with its nominees Ariel Lijo and Manuel García-Mansilla in place. It believes that both judges will win the backing of the Senate, but if this scenario is not feasible, they anticipate that decrees will be used to appoint them.
As has been the case for several months, within the Casa Rosada they are sure that Lijo will have the approval of Unión por la Patria senators. If that does not happen, there will be a decree. The same situation will occur with García-Mansilla: if there is no endorsement, he will reach the highest court thanks to a signature from Javier Milei.
The ruling party argues that the Supreme Court cannot continue to function, for operational reasons, with just three members. The two vacancies must be filled. In order for the nomination papers to win approval, each magistrate nominated by the government must have 48 votes in favour, in the event of perfect attendance. Unión por la Patria has 34 senators in the upper house, so its role is decisive.
La Libertad Avanza is also working on a bill to modify the criminal penalties outlined in the Penal Code. Specifically, they say that they should be more severe. The example cited is life imprisonment, which the ruling party argues is not life imprisonment because a convicted person finishes his or her sentence within a set period of time.
In cases of rape, for example, sentences will be extended. The bill, according to government sources, will be presented during ordinary sessions of Congress, not in the ongoing summer special sessions. There is more: Security Minister Patricia Bullrich is promoting an initiative on the construction of private prisons.
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