Argentina government prioritizes PASO suspension in political reform negotiations

The Argentine government is reportedly willing to compromise on certain aspects of its political reform package to prioritize the suspension of the 2027 PASO (Primary, Open, Simultaneous, and Mandatory) elections. Officials in the Casa Rosada indicated that the suspension of these primaries is the administration's highest priority, suggesting they may resign specific chapters of the electoral reform to secure the necessary votes.

The reform project, which includes measures such as 'Ficha Limpia' and changes to party financing, is set for discussion in the Senate. Legislators may discuss less controversial points first to build momentum before tackling the highly contested issue of the PASO suspension.

Simultaneously, political tension has risen following the resignation of Gabriel Esterelles from the Congressional Budget Office (OPC). The departure comes amid concerns regarding the independence of the agency, following directives from the Bicameral Commission of Parliamentary Supervision to review technical reports before publication. Opposition lawmakers have characterized these administrative actions, coordinated by House Speaker Martín Menem, as an attempt to restrict fiscal reporting and limit the technical tools used to evaluate the impact of legislative initiatives.