August 9th, 2024
1. Chamber of Deputies session cancelled due to tensions
The Chamber of Deputies was to be in session this Wednesday, initiating its second semester. However, it did not manage to hold its session due to the lack of quorum, with an extremely tense political environment. The pro-government bloc of La Libertad Avanza could not gather the necessary quorum, and Encuentro Federal (ex Hacemos), led by Miguel Ángel Pichetto, was absent in protest, reflecting deep internal divisions. The session was to address the appointment of three vacant directors in the General Audit Office of the Nation (AGN), but previous agreements were undone, adding more tension. In addition, the recent visit of LLA legislators to dictatorship-era repressors detained in the Ezeiza Prison generated controversy, with several sectors calling for an investigative commission and filing internal criminal complaints. The uneasiness also extended to the refusal of Martin Menem, President of the Chamber of Deputies, to grant Emilio Monzó the presidency of the Bicameral of Intelligence, which Federal Encounter considers a betrayal. On the other hand, the libertarians’ summoning of the Bicameral of Legislative Procedure to deal with Milei’s DNU was also criticized for its limited agenda, especially for omitting a debate on a key decree. Now, Martin Menem is facing increasing pressures and has not been able to advance in the approval of laws, satisfying neither his allies nor his adversaries.
Ámbito Financiero: Tensión en Diputados: por falta de quórum, se cayó sesión que trataría denuncia contra Alberto Fernández, Venezuela y la visita a represores
2. The National Executive Branch regulates the Bases Law
Almost one month after the enactment of the Bases Law, the National Government regulated the first part of the legislation, with the purpose of advancing with the reforms that President Javier Milei proposed to carry out since the beginning of his administration. In this first stage, the Executive established the regulations related to Title II, which contemplates the modifications in the public employment system, changes in the administrative processes and privatizations of public companies. The regulation became effective through Decree 695/2024 published early this morning in the Official Gazette. The move accelerates the implementation of the regulation, which was the result of a long process in Congress.
3. Chief of Cabinet meets with Carlos Bianco, Minister of Government of the Province of Buenos Aires
The Chief of Cabinet, Guillermo Francos, met with Carlos Bianco, Minister of Government of Buenos Aires, a key official of Governor Axel Kicillof, to create a working group focused on provincial claims. During the meeting, they discussed issues such as co-participation, financing of public works such as the Magdalena Navigation Channel and the mega LNG plant, a millionaire investment, which YPF decided to finally install in Río Negro. The meeting had a pleasant tone and lasted 40 minutes. Francos also met with the Governor of Santa Cruz, Claudio Vidal, who has not yet signed the May Pact, due to the climatic problems that affected his province and prevented him from attending the event on July 9th.
4. Victoria Villarruel leads image ranking for government officials
According to the Monitor del Humor Social y Político (Social and Political Humor Monitor), prepared by the D’Alessio Irol/Berensztein consulting firm measuring the image of public officials, Victoria Villarruel, Vice President of the Nation, is the official with the best positive image (50%) and lowest negative image (47%). On the other hand, Javier Milei, President of the Nation, has a 45% positive image and 52% negative. In the opposition, Rogelio Frigerio, Governor of Entre Ríos, leads with a 42% positive image. Among the politicians with the worst image ratings are Cristina Kirchner, Juan Grabois and several provincial governors, with Martín Llaryora of Córdoba having the worst image. On the other hand, among the issues that most concern the La Libertad Avanza voter today, the main ones are insecurity (81%) and impunity for acts of corruption during the Kirchner government (70%), while the UxP voter is concerned about economic uncertainty (90%) and the adjustments made by the government (79%).
5. National government removes transportation subsidies and eliminates taxes for some agricultural products
Within the framework of the meeting of the transportation commission in the Chamber of Deputies, the person in charge of the national government portfolio, Franco Mogetta, announced that as of September, the City of Buenos Aires will pay 100% of its 31 bus lines and will no longer receive money from the National Government. “This is a pending debt that was maintained by the different political signs that have occupied the government,” said the official. On the other hand, through Decree 697/2024, the national government eliminated export duties on products in the cow category and in the pork and dairy chains. It also reduced to 25 percent the withholding taxes on beef and poultry products, among others.