Argentine President Javier Milei announced on Tuesday that his government will send an electoral reform bill to Congress on Wednesday, eliminating PASO primaries, changing political financing, and introducing Ficha Limpia. “Se acabó la joda,” Milei posted on X. The project aims to redefine candidate selection and eligibility for national elections.
President Javier Milei stated on social media that the Executive Power will send the electoral reform bill to Congress tomorrow, Wednesday. In his X post, he outlined three pillars: “ELIMINAMOS LAS PASO: basta de obligar a los argentinos a pagar internas de la casta”; “CAMBIAMOS EL FINANCIAMIENTO: se termina la política viviendo de tu bolsillo”; and “FICHA LIMPIA: los corruptos AFUERA para siempre”. The message ended with “SE ACABÓ LA IMPUNIDAD. SE ACABÓ LA JODA. VIVA LA LIBERTAD CARAJO”.
PASO, or Primarias Abiertas, Simultáneas y Obligatorias, are mandatory open primaries where parties select candidates via public vote. They were suspended nationally in 2025 for midterm elections on October 27. Approval of elimination would shift candidate selection to internal party mechanisms, limiting independent voter involvement.
Current political financing mixes public and private funds. The reform aims to cut or end state contributions, shifting to private sources. Ficha Limpia would bar candidates with convictions for corruption or serious crimes, even at second instance, verified by the Electoral Justice.
While national, provinces like Santa Fe, Mendoza, CABA, Buenos Aires, Catamarca, and Entre Ríos retain primary systems. Santa Fe used them in 2025, others suspended temporarily. Each must legislate separately for provincial changes.
