Argentina government withdraws foreign land ownership clause amid protests

The administration of Javier Milei has withdrawn a chapter of the ‘Inviolability of Private Property’ bill that would have eased restrictions on foreign land ownership following widespread public protests and a lack of necessary votes in the Senate. The withdrawn section specifically addressed the expansion of land limits for foreign entities and modifications to fire management laws.

Despite this retreat, the broader legislative package remains active and will move to the Chamber of Deputies. Key components of the bill include a proposal for ‘express evictions,’ which seeks to replace standard judicial processes with an expedited procedure to recover properties in cases of non-payment or illegal occupation. Proponents argue this would reduce eviction timelines from years to four to six months, while critics and indigenous organizations warn the law threatens communal territories and vulnerable populations.

In response to the legislative developments, various social, political, and indigenous groups have organized protests across Argentina. New mobilizations are being planned to contest the bill as it advances through the lower house of Congress.