President Javier Milei has cause for celebration after a round of political horse-trading ended in his La Libertad Avanza party becoming the first minority in the lower house Chamber of Deputies
Milei, 55, was at the National Legislature himself on Wednesday to enjoy the moment, watching the swearing-in of newly elected lawmakers with a broad grin.
La Libertad Avanza secured a majority with a bloc of 95 members, following the incorporation of Francisco Morchio from Entre Ríos Province and the departure of three Catamarca deputies from the opposition Unión por la Patria (Peronist coalition).
“First minority confirmed. VLLC (“Viva la libertad carajo”)! “ celebrated Milei in his X account, quoting a message from LLA caucus chief Gabriel Bornoroni that tagged the President and Lower House Speaker Martín Menem.
“Welcome @Franmorchio to the caucus of La Libertad Avanza. Your unconditional support in these past two years and your unwavering commitment for those to come strengthen our road towards a future of libertad and prosperity,” wrote Bornoroni in another post.
“With your valuable contribution, we are arriving at the first minority, which will permit us to continue forcefully pushing the ideas of liberty while leaving behind the Kirchnerite populism which has done so much damage to our country VLLC!!!”
Decree on way
Milei, according to reports, is finalising a presidential decree that will summon lawmakers and convene special sessions of Congress in a bid to push through his key legislative goals.
The President wants Congress to be active up until the new year. The first half of January will be practically devoid of official activity, should everything go to plan.
The top priorities are the 2026 Budget, a "fiscal innocence" bill and labour reform.
Milei’s hopes will now be boosted by an unexpected advantage: the consolidation of the first minority in the Chamber of Deputies after the reconfiguration of political forces and Morchio’s switch.
The loss of the biggest force tag will hurt the Peronist opposition, which had been expected to secure 96 seats for its caucus. However, following talks with the government, Catamarca Governor Raúl Jalil forced through the exit of three deputies representing that province to form a new caucus, Elijo Catamarca.
The switch meant that UxP passed to 93 deputies, with LLA rising to 95 with the arrival of Encuentro Federal’s Morchio.
Breakaway
The three Catamarca deputies announced last Tuesday that they were breaking away from UxP to form a new caucus on the orders of Peronist Governor Jalil.
Fernanda Avila, Fernando Monguillot and Sebastían Nóblega all jumped ship. Nóblega will head the new caucus with Monguillot as its secretary.
In a statement, Nóblega formally informed the creation of the caucus, requesting its institutional recognition within the legislative body.
In another strategic move, three other caucuses announced they were joining forces to make a new bloc. Lawmakers from Provincias Unidas, Encuentro Federal and Coalición Cívica-ARI will make up Unidos, ensuring greater sway in the chamber.
The move is a response to a need to coordinate forces when negotiating with the La Libertad Avanza caucus, which requires external support to advance its legislative agenda.
Its members say it will form a shape of dialogue and negotiation.
PRO-UCR team up
Talks are also ongoing over the potential unification of lawmakers from PRO, the Unión Cívica Radical (UCR) and the Movimiento de Integración y Desarrollo (MID), which could create lead to the third-largest force in Congress.
The caucus responding to ex-president Mauricio Macri has 12 deputies while the UCR would contribute seven. Adding in MID deputies Oscar Zago and Eduardo Falcone, as well as Nancy Picon and Carlos Jaime from San Juan’s Producción y Trabajo, could create a force of 23 lawmakers.
Those conversations could include the four deputies of the Coherencia libertarian splinter group, said sources close to the talks.
Negotiations between PRO and UCR are headed by the former’s caucus chairman Cristian Ritondo and Radical representatives Karina Banfi and Pamela Verasay.
The PRO caucus had 14 deputies but lost José Nuñez and Sergio Capozzi to Provincias Unidas, thus being reduced to the following 12: Ritondo, Alejandro Finnochiaro, María Fernanda de Sensi, Fernando de Andreis, Antonela Giampieri, Javier Sánchez Wrba, Martín Ardohain, Emmanuel Bianchetti, Álvaro González, Daiana Fernández Molero, Aníbal Tortoriello and Martín Maqueda.
Apart from Banfi and Verasay, the Radicals are Gerardo Cipolini, Lisandro Nieri, Guillermo Agüero, Ariel Schneider and Diogenes González.
– TIMES/NA/PERFIL
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