Javier Milei’s Tax and Omnibus Bills Narrowly Pass Argentine Senate
Argentine President Javier Milei’s comprehensive reform package was narrowly approved in the Senate late on Wednesday, as protests against his measures turned violent in Buenos Aires.
Following an 11-hour debate, senators voted 37–36 in favor of Milei’s tax reforms and an omnibus bill. The motion was initially tied 36–36, but Vice President Victoria Villarruel, the head of the chamber, cast the decisive vote.
“For those Argentines who suffer, who wait, who do not want to see their children leave the country…my vote is affirmative,” Villarruel said.
Last December, Milei introduced his extensive reform package, aimed at deregulating and reforming several sectors, including labor, commerce, real estate, and health care. The bill also proposes a declaration of “a public emergency in economic, financial, fiscal, pensions, defense, tariff, energy, health, administrative, and social matters until December 31, 2025.” It seeks to privatize numerous state-owned enterprises.
However, the bill faced an uphill battle in Congress, where Milei’s party is in the minority. The bill was rejected in February and was approved in a modified form in late April, reducing the number of articles from over 600 to 232.
During the Senate voting, some of the bill’s elements were also removed, including the plan to privatize the state-run airline, AerolÃneas Argentinas.
During his first six months in office, Milei has not managed to pass any legislation. So far, he has relied on his executive power to deregulate the Argentine economy and cut public spending. Yesterday’s successful vote represents an initial legislative victory for the president.
The bill still requires voting on each individual article—a process that is expected to last through Thursday night—before facing a final vote in the lower house. However, at this point, its implementation
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