Argentine Senate Begins Debate on President Milei’s Reforms
Argentines march against the reforms proposed by the Milei administration, Buenos Aires, June 12, 2024. Photo: X/ @JavoRodriguezL
June 12, 2024 Hour: 1:40 pm
Citizens gathered outside the Parliament to protest against his proposals for legal reforms and fiscal adjustment.
On Wednesday, the Argentine Senate began to debate the bill called “Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines.” This proposal was sent by President Javier Milei on April 29, once it was approved by the Chamber of Deputies.
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Senate President Victoria Villarruel began the parliamentary session with the presence of 37 out of 72 lawmakers. This happened despite the fact that 33 opposition senators and other legislators on Tuesday asked their colleagues not to provide the necessary quorum for the processing of Milei’s bill.
The Argentine president has only managed to secure the vote of the seven senators of his Freedom party. Therefore, he has been negotiating with legislators the approval of a bill that seeks to restructure the State and deregulate the economy.
If the senators approve his bill, it will return to the Lower House for final approval. Once the Base Law is discussed, senators will debate a fiscal project that aims to increase tax revenues.
Meanwhile, hundreds of citizens gathered outside the Senate to protest against the proposals for legal reforms and the fiscal adjustment that the far-right government intends to impose in a country where the majority of the population is mired in poverty. The protesters express their deep concern about the impact that this legislation could have on labor rights, social policies and the distribution of wealth.
“Today we march to ask the senators to live up to history and reject the Base Law. This march is in our own defense and in defense of Argentina. Say NO to the Base Law!,” said Javier Rodrigues, the Minister of Agrarian Development of the Buenos Aires Province.
On Wednesday, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) released a survey showing that at least 9.9 million Argentine children eat less meat and dairy due to increasing family poverty. Compared to what was happening in 2023, the current income of almost half of households is not enough to cover basic expenses for food, health, and education.
In Argentine families, the consumption of vegetables and fruits also decreased (-58%) and the intake of noodles and flour increased (+24%). Three out of ten families have to resort to some informal loan to be able to buy food.
Sources: EFE
teleSUR/ JF
