The opposition in Argentina is determined to go ahead with the pension reform, despite the presidential veto announced by Javier MileiThis movement has generated an intense political debate and has set in motion a series of strategies by the opposition blocs to achieve the two-thirds necessary in Congress and thus turn the reform into law.
The pension reform, which was recently approved in the Senate, seeks to modify the pension mobility law to guarantee a more favorable adjustment for retirees. However, the president Javier Milei vetoed the law arguing that it compromises the country’s fiscal surplus.
This veto did not come as a surprise to the opposition, which had already anticipated this possibility and began working on a strategy to reverse it. The first step for the opposition is to gather the necessary votes in the Chamber of Deputies.
To achieve the two-thirds majority, they need the support of 172 deputies present at the session. The blocs that voted in favour of the original project are now in talks to secure these votes. These include the Radical Civic Union (UCR), Union for the Homeland (UP), Federal Encounter, Federal Innovation, the Civic Coalition, For Santa Cruz and the Neuquén Popular Movement.
In total, these blocks add up to 162 votes, so they need at least 10 additional votes to reach two-thirds. The opposition’s strategy includes convincing some PRO deputies and other minority blocks to support the reform.
They are also working to ensure the presence of all the deputies who voted in favour in the previous session, avoiding absences that could compromise the result. In the Senate, the situation is similar. The opposition needs 48 votes to reach two-thirds and be able to insist on the reform.
Blocks
The blocks that voted in favor in the Senate add up to 46 votes, so they need at least two additional votes. The strategy here also includes convincing some senators from the PRO and other blocks to support the reform.
The opposition is confident that it can achieve these additional votes and reverse the veto of Javier MileiThe debate on pension reform has generated intense discussion in the political and social spheres. Supporters of the reform argue that it is necessary to ensure a fairer adjustment for retirees, who have seen their income eroded by inflation.
