President Javier Milei's government has amended almost 100 laws in Argentina via DNU (Decretos de Necesidad y Urgencia) emergency decrees thus far in his libertarian administration – to be exact, 98 laws have been amended solely by his hand without passing through Congress.
Milei, 54, has used 27 DNUs to introduce amendments for important laws such as the Budget, the Law of Ministries, the SIPA (Sistema Integrado Previsional Argentino) pension system, the Law of the Treasury Prosecutor and the National Intelligence, among others, since taking office last December.
His first decree amending a law was DNU 21/23 last December 12 introducing amendments to Law 18,777, regulating the functioning of the National Treasury Prosecutor’s office.
The methodology used by the Executive branch motivated the opposition to advance in its blocking intentions even further, though these bids were frustrated by the government and its allies
The second decree was 56/23 on December 16 amending Law 27,701, the 2023 Budget (which was extended for 2024), introducing amendments in the public debt chapter.
The DNU with the most amendments is Milei’s mega-decree 70/23. More than 60 laws were altered.
This is by no means minor data bearing in mind that in the ordinary period of sessions now ending only two important bills presented by the Casa Rosada were approved: the trademark ‘Ley de Bases’ mega-reform and its accompanying fiscal package. Beyond that the bills proposed by the Executive branch and approved were low calibre, like the amendment of the Firearms Law or the expansion of the Genetic Bank.
The DNUs signed by the President also introduced amendments to key aspects such as the Federal Criminal Procedural Code (Ley N°27,150) or the family benefits (Law N°27,160) collected by registered employees via ANSES social security administration.
Another important DNU amended the Law to Update Pensions (24,241). The new pension mechanism driven by the Executive branch motivated various caucuses to push for a new bill providing more for pensioners, which was approved by Congress. However, it also triggered the presidential veto, which ended up with Milei coining the term “87 heroes” in honour of the deputies who ratified his veto.
Decree 846/24 amending the laws N°24,241 and N°116,72, introducing changes in the SIPA (1993) and in the Permanent Budget laws, made flexible debt swap conditions. This motivated a request for a special session by opposition caucuses to overturn it but the national government managed to block it in coordination with allied governors.
“This form of governing seems a shortcut to bypass Congress while dodging debate, transparency and legislative control,” reflected the deputy Oscar Agost Carreño (Encuentro Federal-Córdoba). “We should debate what emergency really is and if fundamental laws can be changed by a single signature.”
The Law of Ministries (N°22,520) was amended nine times and the Budget four. In total, there were 45 DNUs throughout the administration although 98 laws were amended via 27 of them.
Comments