The last discussion meeting of the Budget 2025It could have been an email and even the head of the commission raised it that way, José Luis Espertwho, when asked by a radical deputy, answered: “We will answer your questions appropriately by email.“. The ruling party did not move from the project presented by Javier Milei in September, but allied deputies seek to introduce reforms that impact the provincial finances before supporting the Government’s ruling next Tuesday.
The position of the governors will be finalized in a transversal meeting in the CFI,where they will try to converge in legislative positions to strengthen your bargaining power, but it has limits. Through several officials, among whom was the President and the Chief of Staff, Guillermo Francos, the Casa Rosada made it known that it can govern without a Budgetwhich would subject the leaders to another year of discretion. The provincial leaders already winked at Milei this week, when they avoided rebelling and accompanied the ruling party to bring down the session that intended to remove the DNU 846/2024 that enabled the free debt exchangewhich would have weakened the libertarian administration in the face of international lenders if they also did not have a budget law.
That is why the ten governors of the PRO and the UCR, along with others from provincialist partiesthey conveyed to the deputies who respond to them the need to approve the official proposal. “We have our struggles with the governors, but we are not going to be with the opposition’s torch if it is later resolved elsewhere,” they explained from the bench of Federal Meetingwhich until a month ago promised its own opinion.
From the Radical Civic Unionhighlighted the repeated evasion of the ruling party to pay what is owed through co-participation and point to two central axes: universities (“The Government recognizes that the budget for universities is going to be higher, but they do not want it in the opinion so they can do it at their discretion”, they analyzed) and retirements, sector for which they are debating between making the DNU that governs pension matters official through a law or allowing it to continue as a decree to have greater arguments for repeal in the future.
However, they reiterate specific modifications: the payment of the debt that the Nation has with the provinces for pension funds; the compensation of Fiscal Pact of 2017; co-participation of Contributions from the National Treasury (ATN) that were not distributed in 2024 along with a balance in next year’s shipments; reduction of district contributions to ARK; and elimination of fuel tax or an equitable distribution of funds. “If there is money, there are no works”summarized a radical advisor about the position of the Nation, which does not want to finish sending the certifications of public works that have already begun. Regardless of what ultimately happens, The majority opinion will be signed by the Federal Meeting bloc – in dissent -, the UCR, the PRO and La Libertad Avanza.
Opposition opinion
He Peronism will have the second opinion with the highest number of signatures and, under the paradigm that the fiscal deficit does not necessarily lead to inflationproposes an increase in funds for universitiesimprovement in bonus retiredrestoration of FONID and repeal of the free debt exchange.
However, it is still experiencing internal tensions after the absences of members of the bloc in the session that precisely removed the DNU of free debt exchange and a debate was opened within the bench: to buckle down as a clear opposition in a space without pressure from the governors or to support a greater number that may suffer leaks. “I take charge of everything for my colleagues, those who did not come due to political decision or illness,” stated the president of Union for the Homeland, Germán Martínez.
Another minority opinion will come from Democracy foreverof dissident radicals, which has two signatures in the Budget and Finance Commission. In the coming days, between advisors and Zoom meetings, they will finish shaping a project that dialogues with the Peronist and with the ambition of the federalists. He Left Frontfor its part, has already announced that it will present a rejection opinion.
Germán Martínez UCR Pablo Juliano
Mariano Fuchila
“They are a possibility extraordinary sessions; “It is not defined but it is a possibility,” said the presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorniin his usual morning press conference. The Government is optimistic about having the half sanction of Deputies before the end of November, but the debate still remains in the Senate, where the rejection of a more influential Peronist bloc will be joined by the prominence of the radical Martin Lousteauwho sees in the Budget debate an opportunity to rise as an opposition reference. It seems to be a matter of time before Casa Rosada obtains legislative fluidity to approve its economic design for next year.
Source: Ambito
