President Javier Milei will be hoping it's third time lucky tonight as he gears up to present his 2026 Budget bill in a nationwide broadcast, before formally sending it to Congress.
Milei failed to pass a financing bill in the first two years of his administration, but opposition governors and legislators have begun making clear they will not accept a third consecutive rollover of the 2023 budget.
The opposition says it will set out a rigorous framework for the bill’s debate to guarantee approval before the end of Congress’s ordinary sessions.
Lawmakers plan to press the head of the Budget Committee in the lower house, José Luis Espert, and will summon Economy Ministry officials if necessary, according to reports.
They want to avoid a repeat of last year, when the debate was cancelled due to a lack of consensus and the 2023 Budget Law was extended for a second time, granting the La Libertad Avanza administration greater discretion in managing funds.
The government’s response is expected to focus on convening debate as soon as the bill enters Congress and on rebuilding ties with sympathetic governors through proposals linked to the sharing of ATN national Treasury funds and tax redistribution policies.
A number of top provincial governors, including Alfredo Cornejo (Mendoza), Rogelio Frigerio (Entre Ríos) and Leandro Zdero (Chaco), have already met with government officials.
Inside the Casa Rosada, officials insist that fiscal balance is non-negotiable. They will not endorse any changes to the bill that might jeopardise that goal.
Provincial governments, for their part, argue that harsh austerity measures can not be extended for another year.
Jujuy Province Governor Carlos Sadir complained last week that there is no fluid communication with the national government. In a radio interview, he voiced support for fiscal balance but stressed it must be applied with social sensitivity.
“We strongly agree with fiscal balance,” Sadir told Radio Rivadavia, “but we believe you can govern with zero deficit in a socially conscious way. People need that.”
Milei's speech later this evening will reveal whether the libertarian administration is willing to debate opposition demands or intends to impose its blueprint with little room for concessions.
The budget debate comes at a politically difficult moment for the government, following a legislative defeat in Buenos Aires Province, repeated setbacks in Congress and a corruption scandal potentially implicating Milei’s sister and presidential chief-of-staff, Karina.
– TIMES/NA
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