Within the framework of the negotiations ahead of the extraordinary sessions called by the ruling party led by Javier Milei, the MID deputy, Oscar Zago, offered revealing details about the conversations between political forces in a dialogue that combines tensions, consensus and tight times. The dynamics of the meetings highlight the challenges of a government that needs agreements in a fragmented Congress, while sectors of the dialogue-oriented opposition seek to impose conditions.
One of the central points of the debate revolves around the draft “Clean Record”. According to Zago, the proposal has a significant consensus and the intention is to deal with it in the venue without major modifications. The legislator emphasized that the initiative should apply not only to deputies and senators, but also to members of the Executive Branch. “It is not fair that because I am a minister the same standards are not applied as to a legislator,” he said in a radio interview with Maxi Sardi (Delta 90.3). This position is echoed by sectors of the opposition that support the measure, although it remains to be confirmed whether the vote will reflect this apparent uniformity.
On the other hand, the future of Open, Simultaneous and Mandatory Primaries (PASO) It is an issue that generates internal divisions. The Milei government seeks to eliminate them, but Zago pointed out that within Congress there seems to be more support for a suspension than for their definitive elimination. “The city of Buenos Aires will discuss the suspension next week, which would make it difficult for national deputies representing that jurisdiction to support a total elimination,” he warned. This issue not only exposes the tensions between the blocs, but also the rush of the ruling party to make decisions in an election year.
In economic matters, the “bankruptcy law” and initiatives to reduce taxes were also addressed, although with less clarity regarding their future. Zago highlighted that the technical teams are still evaluating the scope of the bankruptcy law, while the reduction of withholdings, proposed by the deputy Rodrigo de Loredo, He received an ambiguous response from the ruling party: “The government assured that they have it in mind, but it is not up for discussion now,” he commented. This shows that the Executive’s priorities are concentrated on other projects.
Likewise, recidivism in crimes and the possibility of implementing remote trials are proposals that are advancing with relative agreement. These initiatives had already been discussed in 2023, and according to Zago, they have the support of several opposition blocs. However, the big absentee on the agenda seems to be the budget, an issue that, although crucial, was not discussed in depth during the meetings. “They told us that the president has the issue on his mind, but the officials present did not give clear answers,” lamented the MID legislator.
The schedule for extraordinary sessions is also subject to surgical precision. According to Zago, the week of the 11th will be key: advisors will meet to finalize details, and the commissions will seek to issue an opinion so that the projects reach the chamber between the 11th and the 13th. The intention is for the Senate to receive the initiatives before the 14th. , preventing the treatment from being postponed until March. “If we wait until March, it would already be too late,” he said.
The role of the dialogue opposition in these negotiations is key to unblocking official initiatives in a divided Congress. The meetings led by the Chief of Staff, Guillermo Francosincluded references such as Cristian Ritondo and Rodrigo de Loredo, who maintain a pragmatic position: negotiate without conceding ground on sensitive aspects. In this context, Zago highlighted that “we are working against the clock to achieve consensus,” but acknowledged that some issues, such as the budget and the elimination of PASO, continue to be points of friction.
The political analysis of these negotiations reveals a ruling party that seeks to consolidate its legislative agenda through agreements with sectors of the opposition. However, internal differences and tensions over sensitive issues such as PASO and fiscal policy raise questions about the government’s ability to capitalize on these extraordinary sessions. In the words of Zago, “many things remain to be defined, but there is a will to move forward on the most agreed upon issues.” This balance between dialogue and confrontation will set the course for the coming weeks in Congress.
by RN
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