Argentina President Javier Milei’s controversial economic reform package failed to pass the Senate Tuesday and was sent back to the legislative committee for further deliberation, according to a statement from the president’s office.
Milei’s reform efforts include the “Bases and Starting Points for the Liberty of Argentines” omnibus bill and the controversial Decree 70/30. The decree grants the president unilateral authority to amend or revoke laws in response to economic emergencies, a move that has drawn criticism from legal experts who argue its possible unconstitutionality. In January, millions of workers also took to the streets in a general strike against Milei’s proposed measures.
Milei, a self-proclaimed “anarchy-capitalist,” pledged to reform the Argentinian economy through shock therapy, severe austerity, and privatization. The omnibus bill, which lawmakers extensively modified, proposes drastic reforms on various issues, including provisions on the privatization of state entities and reducing public expenditure.
Milei denounced the obstruction of the reform bill, characterizing opponents as a political caste working against the interests of the Argentinian people.
The bill must pass through the legislative committees of the Chamber of Deputies before progressing to the Senate for final approval. Milei had sought support from the main conservative coalition, Juntos por el cambio. Milei’s party, La Libertad Avanza, holds only seven seats in the 72-seat Senate and 38 seats in the 257-member Chamber of Deputies. The party also criticized the opposition to the bill as treasonous.