The project establishes a series of changes in the internal life of political parties and raises the bar of demands for their existence, among other points. What is modified and how does it impact the elections?
The presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, announced this Friday that the Government will send to Congress the Reform Law for Electoral Strengtheningwhich proposes eliminate Simultaneous and Mandatory Open Primaries (PASSED) and set greater requirements for the existence of political partieswill reduce public financing and increase the possibility of private contributions, among other points.
“Since its creation, the PASSED have functioned as a million-dollar survey at the service only of politics and to the detriment of the economy and the time of Argentines,” he argued. Adorni at his press conference at the Casa Rosada.
To justify this proposal, he stated that Only ten groups used this tool to settle internal disputes for the presidential electionsof which 40% failed to reach the minimum floor of 1.5% of votes to be able to compete in the general elections.
“Argentine society practically lives in a constant electoral campaign. “This, far from generating a higher level of participation, the only thing it has caused is fatigue and boredom on the part of Argentines,” said the presidential spokesperson.
This bill involves a political reform of the current electoral system and political parties. In addition to eliminating the STEP, it aims modify the organic law of political parties and their financing system.
The new requirements for political parties
The law proposed by the Government establishes greater requirements for the existence of political parties to “strengthen their representativeness and avoid the famous ‘rubber stamps’, political parties whose only objective is tax collection,” he stated. Adorni. The requirements are:
- Count on a minimum of 0.5% of members on the electoral rollbefore it was 0.4%.
- Have the minimum floor of 3% of the votes in two consecutive elections.
- National parties must have presence in at least ten districts. Today there are five.
In addition, it was announced that a digital platform will be created to manage and revalidate memberships. If the law is approved, Political parties will have a deadline to adapt to this new regulation until 2026.
Changes in political financing
The bill that the Government will send also proposes changes in the financing of political parties. Among other measures, will increase the limits on private contributions, the elimination of electoral advertising spaces that by law they had to give up the mediathe elimination of public financing for campaigns.
This does not mean that the State would stop providing contributions to political parties, but rather that it would reduce the amounts. As Adorni explained, it will remain a single contribution per year proportional to the electoral results is in force.
Source: Ambito
