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With President Javier Milei already back in Argentina, the Government has prepared a series of Decrees that will be signed and published in the coming days. Some will formalize issues already on the agenda, while others will be unexpected reforms.
Firstly, by this Tuesday, the text calling for the creation of the May Council will be published. This council will be responsible for translating the points agreed with the opposition in the May Pact into draft laws.
According to sources close to the national president, as reported by Infobae, provinces, Congress, businessmen, and the union sector will have 30 days to elect their respective representatives to this body in the manner they deem best.
Each area will then be responsible for deciding who will be its envoy, although in the case of governors, only those who signed the Pact in Tucumán on July 9 will be able to participate.
This means that the leaders of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof; from La Rioja, Ricardo Quintela; from Formosa, Gildo Insfran; from La Pampa, Sergio Ziliotto; and from Tierra del Fuego, Gustavo Melella, will be left out of the discussion table.
While he was absent from the event led by Milei at the Casa Histórica in Tucumán, the governor of Santa Cruz, Claudio Vidal, will soon sign the agreement and will thus also be able to form part of the Council.
Once the group is formed, they will work on the 10 points agreed upon in the Pact, which are: the inviolability of private property; non-negotiable fiscal balance; the reduction of public spending to historic levels, around 25% of the Gross Domestic Product; useful and modern initial, primary, and secondary education, with full literacy and no school dropouts; and a tax reform that reduces tax pressure, simplifies the lives of Argentines, and promotes trade.
Other points include: the re-discussion of federal tax sharing to end once and for all the current extortionate model that the provinces suffer; the commitment of the Argentine provinces to advance in the exploitation of the country’s natural resources; a modern labor reform that promotes formal work; a pension reform that gives sustainability to the system and respects those who contributed; and the opening to international trade, so that Argentina becomes a protagonist of the global market once more.
According to sources from the Casa Rosada, the first topics to be discussed at the Council meetings, which will be held periodically, will be labor and pension reforms, which were excluded from the Bases Law due to lack of consensus.
Although the officialization is still pending, in Balcarce 50 they let it be known that the Executive Power will send the Chief of Staff, Guillermo Francos, as its representative. He will also chair the organization.
On the other hand, in the following days, a Decree will also be published to modify the Federal Intelligence Agency (AFI). It will be called the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE) once more and will continue to report directly to the President.
One of the main changes that will take place is that the portfolio will have three agencies under its charge: one in charge of cybersecurity, another destined to prevent threats from external agents that may be within the country, and a last one, which will do the same, but investigating outside the national territory.
According to those close to Milei, the decision to change the name of the organization is in response to a logic of change in perspective that is being sought. The SIDE will once once more be an entity under the command of a political figure who answers directly to the President, and therefore must have the rank of Secretary of State.
Likewise, the restructuring of the different areas of the Government will be announced in the Official Gazette. Specifically, the agencies and secretariats that will remain under each Ministry following the changes due to the departure of Nicolas Posse and the arrival of Federico Sturzenegger will be announced. This will be called Decree 50.
Finally, the Government is preparing regulations to regulate tipping in restaurants and establishments that provide other types of services. This will allow, among other things, for tipping to be paid by card or other electronic payment methods.
Argentina’s Government Unveils Upcoming Decrees: From May Council to SIDE Revival
The Argentine government, with President Javier Miley back on home soil, is gearing up to unveil a flurry of Decrees in the coming days. These decrees cover a range of topics, some expected, others surprising, promising to shape the nation’s political and economic landscape.
The May Council: A Platform for Pact Implementation
Among the most prominent decrees is the formalization of the May Council, a body tasked with transforming the agreements reached during the May Pact into concrete legislation. This council, a product of negotiations between the government and the opposition, will play a pivotal role in driving forward key reforms.
The May Council’s membership will be diverse, comprising representatives from provinces, Congress, business leaders, and labor unions. Each sector will elect its own delegates within a 30-day period, ensuring a wide range of perspectives are represented.
However, it’s noteworthy that the governors who did not participate in the Tucumán signing of the May Pact on July 9 will be excluded from the Council’s deliberations. This excludes prominent figures like Axel Kicillof (Buenos Aires), Ricardo Quintela (La Rioja), Gildo Insfran (Formosa), Sergio Ziliotto (La Pampa), and Gustavo Melella (Tierra del Fuego).
Despite his absence at the Tucumán event, Santa Cruz governor Claudio Vidal is expected to sign the agreement soon, granting him a seat at the Council. The council’s work will focus on the ten core points of the May Pact, including:
- Inviolability of private property
- Non-negotiable fiscal balance
- Reduction of public spending to 25% of GDP
- Comprehensive and modern education with full literacy
- Tax reform for reduced pressure and trade promotion
- Redesign of federal tax sharing
- Advancement in exploiting natural resources
- Modern labor reform promoting formal work
- Sustainable and respectful pension reforms
- International trade openness
Early council discussions are expected to focus on labor and pension reforms, areas left out of the Bases Law due to lack of consensus.
Guillermo Francos, Chief of Staff, will lead the May Council, representing the executive branch, highlighting its importance within the government’s agenda.
The Return of “SIDE” – Restructuring Intelligence Operations
Another significant decree will see the Federal Intelligence Agency (AFI) revert to its former name, the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE), signaling a shift in intelligence operations and reporting structure. SIDE will answer directly to the President, signifying a heightened level of political control.
The decree introduces a restructuring of SIDE into three agencies: cybersecurity, prevention of threats from external agents within the country, and investigation of external threats outside national borders.
This move reflects a policy shift, empowering SIDE with greater authority and aligning it more closely with the President’s directives. It signifies a return to a model where intelligence operations fall under the direct control of a political leader.
Government Restructuring and Decree 50
The Official Gazette will publish a decree outlining the restructuring of various government agencies and secretariats following the departure of Nicolás Posse and the arrival of Federico Sturzenegger. This Decree 50 will clarify the organizational changes within ministries, ensuring clarity in their respective roles.
Regulation of Tipping: Modernization of Service Payment Methods
Finally, the government is preparing regulations to standardize tipping practices in restaurants and other service establishments. These regulations aim to promote the use of digital payment methods, such as cards and electronic wallets, for tipping.
This move reflects a push toward greater transparency and convenience in gratuity practices, aligning with the government’s broader efforts to modernize payment systems.
As these decrees are unveiled, they are likely to spark political and public debate, shaping the trajectory of the Argentine government’s agenda in the coming months.
