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.
CAMPAIGN COMMENTS Santa Fe not so holy or faithful 15-07-2023 06:56 Turning to tomorrow’s PASO primary in Santa Fe, the mutual backstabbing within Juntos por el Cambio mentioned above is far from absent there – indeed nowhere else is the internal warfare more open. by Michael Soltys
EDITORIAL A parlous parliament 15-07-2023 06:53 Congress might be virtually ignored in this election campaign and yet its pivotal role should not be underestimated by any of the presidential candidates.
CAMPAIGN COMMENTS The elections according to Saint John 08-07-2023 06:59 San Juan is not an especially attractive city for tourists but it does have an uncanny knack for being a venue for key turning-points in Argentine political history. by Michael Soltys
CAMPAIGN COMMENTS The men in the middle 01-07-2023 08:46 Hard not to read this as an unmitigated defeat for Cristina Fernández de Kirchner but those who see her as the ultimate political genius view this as a cunning move to leave Massa holding the baby for an inevitable national defeat while tightening her own grip on pivotal Buenos Aires Province. by Michael Soltys
CAMPAIGN COMMENTS Northwest by northeast 24-06-2023 01:22 We will have to await Chaco’s final provincial elections on September 17 to see how many degrees last Sunday’s political earthquake rated on the Richter scale. by Michael Soltys
CAMPAIGN COMMENTS Toward zero 17-06-2023 06:10 This is an election in which anything could happen – and also nothing, as is occurring in province after province. Pseudo-change in San Luis and a rock-solid majority in Tucumán attest to an underlying provincial continuity at all odds with a volatile national scenario. by Michael Soltys
AND THAT REMINDS ME… Of infighting and inland voting 10-06-2023 06:27 The deadline for defining electoral alliances nationwide expires in only four days’ time but tomorrow’s provincial elections are even more immediate … Tucumán is looking safe for the Frente de Todos government while San Luis could be close. by Michael Soltys
Campaign comments Umpteen candidates in search of an author 03-06-2023 06:08 If Horacio Rodríguez Larreta had again thwarted Mauricio Macri plans by imposing Fernán Quirós over Jorge Macri, this would have been three strikes and out in the PRO founder’s esteem – a hostility potentially fatal to the outgoing City mayor’s presidential ambitions.