Miguel Ángel Pichetto refused the Government's request

The recent decision of Miguel Ángel Pichettoleader of the Encuentro Federal bloc, not attending the meeting called by the Government has generated a great stir in the Argentine political sphere. This decision further complicates negotiations for the extraordinary sessions of Congress, which will formally begin next Monday.

The Chief of Staff, Guillermo Francos, had planned to receive Pichetto along with Cristian Ritondo of the PRO and Rodrigo de Loredo of the UCR at the Casa Rosada next week, but the refusal of Miguel Ángel Pichetto has put these plans in check.

Miguel Ángel Pichetto refused the Government's request

The context of this meeting is crucial to understanding the magnitude of the problem. The Government of Javier Milei has called extraordinary sessions of Congress with the aim of advancing several key projects, such as the elimination of PASO (Simultaneous and Mandatory Open Primaries) and the appointment of Ariel Lijo and Manuel García Mansilla to the Supreme Court.

However, so far there has been no concrete progress in the negotiations, and the lack of consensus between the different political blocs has generated a climate of uncertainty and tension. Since Encuentro Federal, Pichetto has been clear in his position: meetings with the ruling party must take place in Congress, which is the natural setting for legislative conversations.

Miguel Ángel Pichetto refused the Government's request

This demand is not new; Pichetto has been demanding for some time that the negotiations be carried out within the framework of the formality of Congress and not in the Casa Rosada. In a recent meeting with the head of the Chamber of Deputies, Martín Menem, Pichetto, Emilio Monzó and Oscar Agost Carreño reiterated this position, underlining the importance of maintaining institutionality and transparency in the negotiations.

Pichetto’s refusal to attend the meeting at the Casa Rosada has generated a climate of unrest and mistrust between the different political blocs. From the PRO, they confirmed the call for next Tuesday and limited themselves to pointing out that they will go “to listen” to what the Government’s plans are.

Miguel Ángel Pichetto refused the Government's request

yellow bench

However, The yellow bench does not have a unified criterion regarding the elimination of the PASO, and maintains its reservations about the rest of the political reformwhich modifies the financing regime of political parties.

For his part, the head of the radical bloc, Rodrigo de Loredo, continues on vacation and the leadership of the bloc explained that during the weekend they will analyze the proposals that they will take to the meeting on Tuesday.

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