Milei’s Agenda Faces Headwinds as Congress Recesses
As the regular session concluded, the smoke-filled negotiations between President Milei and his allies in Congress yielded limited results. With only special sessions remaining until March, the prospect of passing key legislation appears dimming.
While the administration initially announced ambitious plans, including meddling with political reforms—such as abolishing PASO primaries—and privatizing Aerolineas Argentinas, success hangs in the balance. The onus is now on Milei to convene special sessions, restricting the agenda to topics favored by LLA.
One such topic could be the controversial proposal to eliminate PASO primaries announced in 2025. This initiative, though unlikely to find Favorable support from La Libertad Avanza’s primary coalition partner, the Union por la Patria (UP). Pushing for PASO repeal while facing staunch opposition suggests a memorandum of understanding between LLA and UP is unlikely unless significant concessions are made.
The UCR and PRO already vocalized their disapproval of abolishing primaries, citing the threat of escalated political spending during campaigns.
Adding fuel to the fire, Milei’s administration revisits another contentious issue: campaign finance reform, proposing lifting limitations on private donations. This proposal spurred immediate pushback from the UCR and PRO. They warn of potential loopholes for organized crime to penetrate the political system, invoking Argentina’s often ignored Access to Public Information Act and the lack of compliance with FATF recommendations.
In pursuit of economic reform, the government also aimed to unravel the complex impasse surrounding the privatization of Aerolineas Argentinas. This initiative, once approved for discussion during the initial Basic Law debate, encountered a deflection in the Senate, leaving it stalled.
While a PRO project attempts to revive discussions, key figures within LLA concede the process is disregarded. Recent developments, including the mounting resistance from diverse opposing alliances, significantly temper hopes.
Despite these hurdles, the government’s intention remains to leverage the Social Session opportunity. The government leans towards unveiling the "revelation principle", aiming to put a spotlight on those legislators resisting the government’s proposal, potentially shaming them into joining the fold.
Whether congress will heed ompelamore Act for their loyalty to UCR.
What are the main challenges President Milei is facing in getting his agenda passed?
## Interview: Milei’s Agenda Hits Roadblock
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Joining us today is Professor Gabriela Suarez, a political analyst specializing in Argentine politics. Professor Suarez, Argentina’s Congress just wrapped up its regular session, and it seems President Milei has faced some significant challenges getting his ambitious agenda passed. Can you shed some light on this?
**Professor Suarez:** Absolutely. President Milei entered office with a whirlwind of bold reforms, promising everything from shaking up the political system to privatizing state-owned companies like Aerolineas Argentinas. However, as the regular session concluded, it’s clear that his initial optimism has met with the harsh reality of legislative gridlock. [[1](https://apnews.com/article/argentina-milei-libertarian-congress-legislative-protest-unions-economy-c50129872e4987b7a1e936ba83f5e7a1)]
**Host:** So what happened?
**Professor Suarez:** Negotiations between Milei and his allies proved to be much more complex than anticipated. A lot of this resistance comes from the opposition, but internal divisions within his own coalition, La Libertad Avanza (LLA), also played a role.
**Host:** What are the prospects for Milei’s legislative agenda going forward?
**Professor Suarez:** The situation is certainly challenging. With only special sessions scheduled until March, Milei will need to prioritize his objectives carefully. He’ll likely focus on issues favored by LLA, which could include controversial proposals like eliminating the PASO primaries, a move that faces stiff opposition from many sectors of society. [[1](https://apnews.com/article/argentina-milei-libertarian-congress-legislative-protest-unions-economy-c50129872e4987b7a1e936ba83f5e7a1)]
**Host:** Thank you, Professor Suarez, for providing this insightful analysis of the current political landscape in Argentina. It seems President Milei has a long and difficult road ahead if he wants to implement his ambitious reforms.
**Professor Suarez:** My pleasure. It’s a complex situation to watch unfold.
