Misiones Governor challenges Land Law after Supreme Court ruling

Misiones Governor Hugo Passalacqua has ordered legal action to challenge the implementation of the Land Law in his province. Through Decree No. 1935, the governor instructed the State Attorney to take judicial measures to protect provincial rights following a Supreme Court ruling that enables the free acquisition of rural lands by foreign nationals.

The Supreme Court recently revoked a previous ruling that had declared Article 154 of Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) 70/2023 unconstitutional, citing a lack of standing by the party that brought the suit. This decision effectively reinstates the deregulation of rural land ownership, derogating Law No. 26,737, which previously protected national territory from foreign ownership.

Governor Passalacqua argued that the decision leaves Misiones in a state of “absolute institutional vulnerability and lack of protection,” particularly given that over 90% of the province borders international territory and possesses unique biodiversity. Opposition leaders, including Germán Martínez, president of the Unión por la Patria bloc, have also criticized the ruling, warning that Argentine lands are now “absolutely unprotected” and expressing concerns over national sovereignty.