News of senate

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.

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.

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.

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

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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