News of senate

The future Senate – Victoria’s secret?

04-08-2025 18:15 In more than one province there is potential for polarisation and the traditional two-party system to be replaced by two competitive non-Peronist options leaving Kirchnerism out in the cold along the lines of the 2013 City race.

by Michael Soltys

Editorial

Fiscal surplus versus political deficit

12-07-2025 06:02 The “forces of heaven” might be on the ascendancy in recent times but what politics needs is more agnostics with a pragmatic rather than dogmatic approach.

POLITICS & CONGRESS

Milei vows veto as Senate defies pension cuts

10-07-2025 23:27 Senate approves bill that would significantly increase government spending on pensions and social security, prompting angry reaction from President Javier Milei.

POLITICS

Villarruel taps ex-officer who ordered destruction of dictatorship records

28-05-2025 16:59 Vice-President Victoria Villarruel appoints former military Juan Manuel Gestoso Presas to Senate as deputy director of Audit Control.

POLITICS & CONGRESS

'Ficha Limpia' fallout: Recriminations fly, Milei points at Macri

12-05-2025 22:57 Misiones minister deepens confusion around ‘Ficha Limpia’ vote; Milei denounces "agreement" between PRO and Peronism; Macri slams “serious hallucination” with video of Silvia Lospennato defending bill.

EDITORIAL

Clean slates – for greenbacks only

10-05-2025 07:25 At least two of this week’s main news items may be considered further setbacks in the fight against corruption. Every suspicion of a meticulously manipulated Senate result instead of free votes of conscience, while those complying with the conditions of last year’s tax whitewash might ask themselves why they went to all that trouble – a black week for removing the stain of corruption with no guarantee against more to come.

POLITICS & CONGRESS

Senate votes down bill barring former leader Fernández de Kirchner

08-05-2025 08:11 Known locally as "ficha limpia," the bill would have effectively barred Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and others convicted of corruption charges from running for or being appointed to national office.

COURTS

García-Mansilla resigns from Supreme Court after Senate rejection

07-04-2025 12:40 Four days after the upper house voted against his nomination by large majority, Manuel García-Mansilla, the Supreme Court justice imposed by President Milei by decree, resigns his bench on the nation's highest court.

IMF DEBT PROGRAMME

Milei issues decree to take new IMF deal through Congress

11-03-2025 09:55 President issues decree seeking green light from Congress to move forward with rejigged IMF agreement; Repayments would be pushed out over 10 years with a grace period of four and a half years.

EDITORIAL

Towards a supremo’s court

01-03-2025 06:27 Both the presidential Supreme Court nominees, Ariel Lijo and Manuel García-Mansilla, present problems. These are rather simpler in the latter case.

POLITICS & COURTS

Government sets March target for Supreme Court appointments

13-02-2025 13:41 Casa Rosada is seeking consensus for nominees Ariel Lijo and Manuel García-Mansilla and its bid to appoint them to the nation’s highest court. But should support be lacking, it may resort to using decrees.

by Juan Pablo Kavanagh

Congress & Politics

Lower house backs ‘Ficha Limpia’ anti-corruption bill

13-02-2025 01:43 Lower house votes 144 in favour, 98 against, with two abstentions; Opposition claims bill targets Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who would be blocked from running for office if Senate backs it.

POLITICS

Milei vs Villarruel: Latest episode in ongoing feud

17-12-2024 13:29 In Victoria Villarruel’s camp, there is surprise at the Executive's attitude. A failed attempt at reconciliation as the Casa Rosada’s satellites launch a full-frontal assault on their own ally.

by Giselle Leclercq

Congress & Politics

Entre Ríos lawmaker accused of money-laundering expelled from Senate

13-12-2024 13:29 Entre Ríos Senator Edgardo Kueider expelled from upper house while detained in Paraguay on suspicion of money-laundering; He and other detainee found with more than US$200,000 in cash as he attempted to cross border.

BEYOND THE HEADLINES

No quorum, no forum

07-12-2024 05:30 Congress becomes its own worst enemy when deputies and senators refuse to do the work for which the tax-payer remunerates them.

by Michael Soltys

POLITICS & CONGRESS

Budget clash, extra sessions, Speaker Menem – Milei’s first year in Congress

04-12-2024 17:39 Despite being firmly in the minority, Milei has managed to amend over 100 laws since taking office and advance his programme of fiscal austerity. Nevertheless, tensions with allies and opposition persist, centred on the 2025 Budget, anti-graft laws and electoral reform.

by Facundo Maceira

POLITICS & CONGRESS

Double blow for Milei: Senate passes university bill, blocks SIDE cash

13-09-2024 11:04 Milei’s cash for spy services blocked as both chambers of Congress block presidential decree for first time since 1994; Senate approves law providing salary increases and boosting budget for universities facing funding “emergency.”

POLITICS

La Libertad Avanza senators oust Paoltroni from upper house caucus

29-08-2024 16:11 Formosa Senator Francisco Paoltroni forms his own single-member caucus in the Senate after angering allies with criticism of government policy.

POLITICS, CONGRESS & COURTS

Ariel Lijo defends Supreme Court candidacy before Senate

22-08-2024 19:22 Federal Judge Ariel Lijo, whose nomination for the nation’s highest tribunal has been questioned by politicians across the spectrum, pushes back against criticism in eight-hour hearing.

POLITICS & JUDICIARY

Key week for Ariel Lijo, Milei’s nomination for Supreme Court bench

19-08-2024 15:40 Federal Judge Ariel Lijo has presented a document to the Senate attempting to answer more than 400 questions sent by citizens; Supreme Court nominee will now defend his work as magistrate in a key Senate committee hearing.

Congress & Politics

Congress set for final showdown on Milei's sweeping reform package

27-06-2024 12:01 Session scheduled to begin at midday and signs indicate the Milei government will secure its first legislative victory since taking office more than six months ago.

CONGRESS & POLITICS

Senate approves RIGI, privatisations, delegation of powers

13-06-2024 19:43 Key articles, including most controversial, ended up being approved in the Senate. Capital whitewash and the moratorium for tax arrears passed unanimously but government unable to gain support for restoration of income tax or reform of levies on personal assets.

CONGRESS & POLITICS

Milei’s bill clears Senate, capping off week of wins

13-06-2024 19:01 Government eyes end of month lower house session for President’s flagship ‘Ley de Bases’ reform bill and accompanying fiscal package; Victory in upper house comes after chaotic scenes outside Congress.

MARKET REACTION

Traders cheer on Argentina as Milei win underpins austerity push

13-06-2024 15:30 Investors welcome congressional approval of President Javier Milei’s 'omnibus' bill.

CONGRESS & POLITICS

Milei gets partial win on reform bills after protests

13-06-2024 00:48 President Milei‘s signature reform package eked out preliminary approval in the Senate, but its most important fiscal measures face strong opposition in a piece-by-piece vote.

Congress & Politics

Milei's 'Ley de Bases' bill clears Senate as VP casts decisive vote

12-06-2024 23:24 Senate gives general approval to President Milei's 'Ley de Bases' mega-reform bill after fresh round of amendments.

Congress & Politics

Senate begins debate on Milei’s ‘Ley de Bases’ mega-reform bill

12-06-2024 12:15 Senators open debate on President Javier Milei's flagship 'Ley de Bases' reform bill as demonstrations begin outside Congress.

Congress & Politics

Senate poses fresh challenge to Milei’s reform bills

05-06-2024 23:26 Opposition senators are pulling together the votes to reject bids to reintroduce income taxes, expand powers and privatise state-owned companies.

CONGRESS & POLITICS

Argentina bonds climb as Milei deregulation plan moves forward

30-05-2024 14:02 Members of Senate general, budget and constitutional committees approve sending the so-called 'omnibus' bill to all senators.

Congress & Politics

Milei’s sweeping deregulation plan passes first Senate hurdle

30-05-2024 09:53 Lawmakers reach consensus with 'Ley de Bases' bill moving to a Senate floor vote, which by law is at least a week away.

POLITICS & ECONOMY

Posse predicts 139% inflation as he finally turns up in Congress

16-05-2024 00:53 Eight-hour debut for Cabinet chief in Congress as he forecasts 139.7% percent annual inflation, a dollar at 1,016 pesos by year-end and defends paralysis of public works projects.

CONGRESS & POLITICS

Government gears up for ‘omnibus’ Senate showdown

08-05-2024 21:33 Make-or-break vote on sweeping reform bill likely to take place next week; Numbers look challenging for La Libertad Avanza, which will need support of allies to secure passage.

NO HAY PLATA?

Rebellion in Senate: Pay increase passed by show of hands and without debate

18-04-2024 17:40 Milei lashes out via social networks after senators vote to approve pay increase; "2025 will see a historic hiding" for the caste, says President.

INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO

Martín Lousteau: ‘I’m not afraid of leaders with an authoritarian streak’

06-04-2024 06:09 Senator and UCR chair on why the mega DNU emergency decree was unconstitutional, President Milei’s economic plan and Radical renewal.

by Jorge Fontevecchia

CONGRESS & POLITICS

Senate set for debate as Milei's deregulation decree hangs in balance

13-03-2024 15:48 Vice-President Victoria Villarruel, in her role as head of Senate, accepts opposition's request for debate and calls special session for Thursday to address President Javier Milei's sweeping emergency deregulation decree.

Congress & Politics

Congress resumes 'article by article' debate on omnibus law

06-02-2024 13:58 The lower house of Congress resumes detailed debate of Milei’s reform package on Tuesday, which Deputies have already approved "in general."

CAMPAIGN COMMENTS

Going to the dogs?

16-12-2023 07:20 This final election 2023 column concludes a series running the length of the campaign – now it’s time to detail the resulting political architecture in the present tense.

by Michael Soltys

ANALYSIS

New Congress will condition Milei’s bid for reform

08-12-2023 00:37 Javier Milei's radical reforms are likely to be heavily conditioned by Congress, with the libertarian leader's caucus a minority in both houses.

POLITICS

Milei’s team for Congress: Menem for lower house, Paoltroni in Senate

04-12-2023 18:00 Heads of lower and upper houses will be libertarians “following democratic tradition of last 40 years,” says president-elect’s office;

VICE-PRESIDENTIAL HANDOVER

Fernández de Kirchner, Villarruel hold ‘historic’ transition meeting

23-11-2023 00:48 “Cordial and respectful” meeting held in the outgoing vice-president’s office at Senate, with no photographs taken; Villarruel says she will be "working all summer through."

CAMPAIGN COMMENTS

Crouching tiger, hidden lion

28-10-2023 04:18 Fear of the unknown is such a conservative emotion that instead people ended up clinging to the status quo, inflation and scandals included.

by Michael Soltys

ELECTION 2023 – RESULTS

Peronists to be first minority in Congress as libertarians boost legislative numbers

25-10-2023 15:19 La Libertad Avanza has had only three deputies since the 2021 midterms, including the candidate himself, but that is all set to change. The libertarians have boosted representation dramatically in the lower house and its number of senators in the upper chamber.

Campaign comments

Expecting every voter to do their duty

21-10-2023 05:51 While tomorrow’s election is widely seen as a three-cornered affair (like the hats in the times of Trafalgar), all three of its fleets tend to believe that there are only two sides. Could tomorrow’s election echo the battle by ultimately leading to a breakdown of existing alliances with a new Argentina eventually resulting?

by Michael Soltys

'Ganancias' bill in Congress

Income tax bill clears lower house with support from Milei, left-wingers

20-09-2023 16:38 Bill to raise ‘ganancias’ threshold to 1.77 million pesos approved by lower house; 135 Frente de Todos, provincial party, leftist and libertarian deputies, among others, back it; 103 votes against, mostly Juntos por el Cambio.