In what is anticipated as a new marathon debatethe libertarian ruling party will seek to approve in the Chamber of Deputies the “Bases Law” and the fiscal packagetwo initiatives demanded by the government of Javier Miley. The session is called for today, at 12, and it will be a sort of “rematch” for the Casa Rosada after the fiasco of last February 6, when it failed in its attempt to approve the founding project of the Executive Branch and ended up ordering its return to committees.
On this occasion, the president of the lower house, Martin Menemand the official strategists decided to prioritize the approval of the initiatives and accepted a significant number of modifications in order to get the texts passed to the Senate for review. The Executive Branch not only eliminated clauses that aroused strong resistance in the dialogue opposition blocs, but also reduced its claims and passed from the more than 600 articles of the initial version of the omnibus law to the few more than 250 which contains the project now.
Nevertheless, the specter of failure in the particular discussion is not completely dissolved. In radicalism, the bench presided over by the man from Córdoba Rodrigo de Loredointernal dissent still persists that could arise when the articles of the initiatives are discussed and complicate the ratification of some clauses.
It is not the only bench in which there are differences: the sector that responds to the Civic Coalition of the interblock We Make the Federal Coalition (HCF), led by the anti-Kirchnerist Peronist Miguel Ángel Pichettopresented a minority opinion that could be translated into votes against on several articles. Furthermore, this sector intends to expand to the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) the benefits of the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI).
In the first attempt, the so-called omnibus law managed to overcome the filter of the general vote, after a tiring debate, with 144 votes in favor15 above the absolute majority of 129 wills, which, in addition, is the yardstick to be reached to sustain the quorum of the session. The blow for the Government was registered in the debate in particular, after six articles were discussed in which the opposition began to tear shreds from the initiative, which provoked Milei’s anger.
For that reason, Menem now intends to vote on the project by chapters. A priori, with the aim of guaranteeing the least traumatic process possible, the ruling party agreed to eliminate the most vexing issues. This is how the privatization of Banco Naciónthe attempt to give a new destination for the Sustainability Guarantee Fund (FGS) that manages the Anses and the modifications to the law of competition defense.
In addition, articles related to the labour reformafter a tug of war between the UCR and the Pichetto bench, and the package of tax laws.
The tentative schedule contemplates exhausting the debate once the session opens. Thus, the end of the session would be scheduled for this Tuesday. With this change, the aim is to avoid reaching Wednesday, May 1, with the deputies arguing in the chamber and the unions mobilized in the streets for Worker’s Day, protesting against the Government.
Peronist votes
To try to close these cracks that could arise during the debate in the chamber, the Government is betting on overcoming them with the support of Peronist votes. Although Kirchnerism declared its outright rejection of the so-called “Bases Law” and the fiscal package, The Casa Rosada moved in recent days to secure the support of some provinces.
All eyes point to the man from Santiago Gerardo Zamorawhich drives seven deputies. The play has a double meaning, since the president administers the vote of three senators that could be decisive in the Upper House.
Zamora is, in addition, one of the most beneficiaries of the injection of co-participatory funds that the provinces will receive for the restitution of the fourth category of Profits which includes the tax package.
As a counterpart, this clause is resisted by the provinces patagonian, since oil workers will suffer a harsh cut in their income with a new tax floor. In the last hours, the claim of the oil producers’ union was added, who announced a measure of force in rejection of the measure that Deputies will debate.