President Javier Milei’s comprehensive reform package, known as the ‘omnibus’ bill, encountered a significant obstacle on Tuesday when members of Congress halted its progression and sent it back to the committee in order to be revised.
Despite the bill receiving overall support in the lower house last week, there was dramatic turn of events in the Chamber of Deputies. On Tuesday, as the legislators started voting on each section of the extensive reform bill, it became evident that the government lacked the necessary votes to pass crucial components.
In a motion approved by lawmakers, Oscar Zago, the leader of the ruling La Libertad Avanza group, urged for the bill to be returned to the committee. This motion has consequently left Milei’s extensive economic reform bill, which entails privatizations and the restructuring of the penal code, uncertain and unresolved.
Milei responded furiously to the news.
The right-wing leader, currently on an official visit to Israel, stated on the X social network that our government program received a majority vote of 56 percent from Argentines. He added that we are not open to negotiating with those responsible for causing damage to the country.
In the Chamber of Deputies, the “Omnibus Law” received overall support last Friday, but lawmakers intended to individually vote on its articles during Tuesday’s session.
Nevertheless, Zago insisted on sending the bill back to the committee stage, stating that opposition members who are supportive of Milei’s proposal were allied with the government.
The main ideas of the bill involve giving Milei the authority to govern through direct orders during emergencies and implementing major changes in the government system, particularly through privatizing various state-owned companies.
According to Myriam Bregman, a politician who aligns with the left-wing, she stated to the press that “this implies that the government must begin anew.”
She went on to say that the country experienced a widespread rejection of Milei’s reforms, citing the protests that took place last week in front of Congress while the bill was being debated.
It is currently uncertain what lies ahead for Milei’s highly contentious reform proposal, officially called the “Bases and Starting Points Law for the Freedom of Argentinians.”
Milei has promised to make austerity measures even stricter if the bill does not receive approval from Congress, and has even considered bringing it to a referendum to let the people decide.
In a second statement released on Tuesday night, the president’s office mentioned that the provincial governors made the choice to eradicate the bill, but they were criticized for betraying the people who elected them.
During the marathon congressional sessions last week that focused on the bill, the government was engaged in ongoing negotiations with its allies regarding certain articles, even while the legislation was being discussed.
The legislators were not given a final version of the document until the second day of their meetings.
In the afternoon, before, the deputies who were present had given their approval for Milei to have special “delegated powers”. These powers would let him govern using decrees for at least a year, but opposition politicians were able to limit its extent.
Paula Oliveto, a deputy of the Coalition Civic ARI, expressed concerns about a fragile democracy that allows one person to exploit companies, organizations, and citizens, ultimately leaving everyone vulnerable.
The initial version of the legislation supported the right-wing concept of “restricting any state involvement that is not essential for guaranteeing the proper utilization of their constitutional rights.”
The declaration of an economic, financial, security, tariff, energy, and administrative emergency received limited backing from the government, with 134 votes in favor and 121 votes against. However, the opposition successfully pressured the government to retract declarations of fiscal, social security, and health emergencies.
Regrettably, there will need to be a larger alteration. It will be essential to reassess all of the government’s expenditures so as to adhere to President Milei’s directive of achieving a zero deficit, as stated by Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni in an interview with the LN+ channel.
batimes
