Carlos Galván 0 As night fell this Monday, a sense of disbelief swept through the country’s governors, who share a WhatsApp group.
“It’s very strange. They didn’t call anyone,”
summarized one governor to Clarín, referring to the Casa Rosada’s reluctance to engage in negotiations to halt bills that challenge the Government. As a result, the governors’ current plan is to push ahead and pass laws on Thursday in the Senate that would compel the Executive Branch to distribute National Treasury Contributions (ATN) and a significant portion of fuel taxes. With just 48 hours remaining, the governors’ chat group is ablaze.
The more adamant voices pushing for swift Senate progress belong to Peronist governors Ricardo Quintela (La Rioja) and Gildo Insfrán (Formosa), along with Kirchnerism ally Gerardo Zamora (Santiago del Estero). A governor who rose to power through Juntos por el Cambio revealed concerns about potential last-minute shifts among counterparts like Raúl Jalil (La Rioja) and Hugo Passalacqua (Misiones), known for siding with Casa Rosada.
While unity prevails among most governors regarding advancing legislation in the absence of a government counteroffer, nuances are emerging on how and when to proceed. The planned Thursday session had not been formally requested by any bloc as of Monday evening. The peronists intend to self-convene on Thursday for deliberations; if 37 senators take their seats, the session can begin.
Jose Mayans, head of Unión por la Patria bloc in the Senate believes they have secured enough senators for quorum – with their block possessing 34 members and needing just three more for quorum validation. Although both bills lack committee approval, special majority support from all 24 provincial leaders seems feasible.
However, some allied governors suggest securing committee approvals before proceeding directly to plenary sessions—a point echoed by government officials indicating procedural missteps eroding trust among stakeholders. Consequently, Senate authorities referred both bills related to Budgets and Revenue Sharing back for further scrutiny as per government wishes.
Criticism mounts against Milei for amassing fiscal surplus at provinces’ expense—intensifying pressure among disenchanted leaders seeking equitable revenue allocation strategies rather than unilateral decisions benefiting federal coffers alone.
In light of upcoming national elections intensifying political stakes, alliances are being tested as parties navigate conflicting priorities over multiple legislative agendas beyond fiscal matters – setting the stage for high-stakes showdowns within Senate chambers this Thursday underlining deeper rifts across political landscapes.
