The recent transfer of PRO deputies to La Libertad Avanza (LLA) and the redistribution of seats drastically changes the political map of Congress. In principle, the effects generated by the internal movements of legislators Alejandro Bongiovanni, Verónica Razzini, José Núñez and even Silvia Lospennatogrants an explicit benefit to the government of Javier Milei in the Lower House, to the detriment of the political force created by Mauricio Macri.
Alejandro Bongiovanni and Verónica Razzini confirmed their move from PRO to LLA. Bongiovanni, national deputy for Santa Fe, communicated his decision to the head of the yellow bloc, and according to his own statements he did so out of ideological affinity with the structural reforms proposed by Milei. Meanwhile, Razzini, who had already left the yellow bloc months ago, formalized his entry into the libertarian sector. With these additions, Mileism has 95 deputies, being one step away from reaching the status of the first minority in Congress.
For his part, José Núñez, another national deputy of the PRO, decided to join the United Provinces bloc, a space led by the vice-governor of Santa Fe, Gisela Scaglia. According to its leaders, it does so to “represent the interior” and accompany national government initiatives that they consider positive. As for Silvia Lospennato, her departure from the National Parliament was planned, although Macri asked her to continue in the Deputies: she will take over as a legislator in the Buenos Aires Legislature, which implies that her seat in the Deputies will be occupied by Lorena Petrovich, linked to sectors related to LLA.
The impact for PRO is severe. The leaks erode the block led by Cristian Ritondo and puts in check the macrista representation that was left with only twelve representatives. Upon Bongiovanni’s departure, Razzini, Núñez and Lospennato were joined, over the months, by several other defections, which dramatically reduces the yellow team’s ability to build a robust alternative within the center-right, calling into question their counterweight role.
On the other hand, it strengthens La Libertad Avanza and with it the sector led by Karina Milei in the national government. By consolidating itself as the first minority, the libertarian bloc obtains the necessary weight to promote its legislative agenda, both in economic and deregulation reforms and in structural changes, which until now had been blocked in Congress.
In general terms, these movements mark a realignment of the Argentine right. A large part of the “macrista” wing of the PRO bleeds towards the libertarians, while some try to rest in provincial or independent spaces. This movement strengthens the ruling party in Congress, makes it easier for them to approve their projects and weakens one of the main parties of the traditional scheme.
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