Argentina

December 10th, 2021

VOLTAR

1. Price control: the government updates the list of products

The national government, through resolution 1064/2021, updated the list of products included in the price control regime that will remain in force until January 7 of next year. Of the 1,432 products that were regulated in the October 20 resolution, around 1,300 will remain in the program. Roberto Feletti, head of the Ministry of Commerce, stated that “products that are impacted by international inflation: wheat, corn, and meat” should be added. He stated that the program will be extended for a longer period: “a better dialogue has been opened with the companies and they accept the program. This will continue in 2022 in the form of a predictable agreement.” Next Monday, the Secretariat of Domestic Trade and participating companies will meet to evaluate how the program will continue.

Infobae: Uno por uno, los nuevos productos que tendrán su precio congelado en los supermercados
Página12: Precios Cuidados en las fiestas

2. The province of Buenos Aires to deploy a health pass

The governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, announced the mandatory implementation of a health pass beginning in December 21 for people over 13 years of age to certify fully vaccinated individuals. This passport will be mandatory to access large cultural or recreational events and enclosed areas such as restaurants and gyms. The province of Buenos Aires is ahead of the national provisions which, for the time being, only deployed a health pass for mass events. The governor remarked that the implementation is driven by the fact that, “cases in the province increased 33% in one week, and everyone should be vaccinated.”

TN: Axel Kicillof anunció el pase sanitario obligatorio para la provincia de Buenos Aires

3. The newly elected national deputies sworn in

The Chamber of Deputies of the Nation celebrated the swearing in of new members elected on November 14 who will form the legislative body beginning today. Fifty new deputies were sworn in for the Frente de Todos (ruling party); 61 for Juntos por el Cambio; four representatives of the libertarians; four of the Frente de Izquierda; and eight deputies belonging to different provincial blocs, turning over 127 out of the 257 total seats. During the ceremony, executive and administrative authorities of the Chamber of Deputies for the next two years were declared. Thus, Sergio Massa’s continuation in the position of president was ratified by all bloc presidents except for the Frente de Izquierda (Left Front). José Luis Gioja (ruling party) was also re-elected as second vice-president, while Juntos por el Cambio proposed the re-election of Omar De Marchi (PRO) as first vice-president and the elected deputy Julio Cobos as third vice-president. As of December 10, all bills that have not been taken up by the chamber will expire and revert to their respective committees. This includes the bill on Minimum Environmental Budgets for the Management of Containers and Inclusive Recycling which, weeks ago, was ready to be taken up by the chamber. None of the majority political parties has a quorum to advance a unilateral agenda. For the moment, the new political blocs in the Chamber of Deputies, which will be key to future legislative negotiations, have not yet been completely defined.

Clarin: Jura de Diputados: asumieron todos y eligieron las autoridades de la Cámara, con Sergio Massa reelecto

4. Alberto Fernández participated in the Leaders for Democracy summit

President Alberto Fernández accepted the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden to virtually participate in the Leaders for Democracy summit, which the U.S. government held yesterday and today. Biden invited more than 100 countries, though China and Bolivia, two of Argentina’s allies, were not invited. He included Taiwan in the list of participants, which led to protests from Xi Jinping’s government. According to the invitation, the objectives of the forum are “the defense against authoritarianism, the fight against corruption, and the promotion of respect for human rights.” The Argentine government opposed a boycott of the Winter Olympic Games in China promoted by the United States.

La Nación: Alberto Fernández aceptó la invitación de Biden a una cumbre que podría incomodar a los aliados de la Argentina

5. Argentina to preside over the United Nations Human Right Council

Argentina was elected for the first time in its history to chair the Human Rights Council of the United Nations (UN) in 2022. The presidency will be held by the current ambassador to the Geneva-based organization, Federico Villegas. In 2022, the Council will conduct the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights and will continue adopting decisions to advance pending issues in the universal agenda for the protection of human rights, including supporting the work of rapporteurs and independent experts on various issues. Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero affirmed that the election of Argentina as President of the United Nations Human Rights Council is “a recognition of our country and its commitment to human rights as part of our national identity since the recovery of democracy.”

Ámbito Financiero: Argentina conducirá por primera vez el Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU
Infobae: Argentina será designada por unanimidad en la presidencia del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de Naciones Unidas