Following his announcement a day earlier, President Javier Milei sent Congress from Israel an electoral reform bill eliminating PASO primaries, introducing a 'ficha limpia' rule, tightening party rules, and overhauling financing. The move aims to save over $200 million and reduce state involvement in party internals, drawing mixed opposition reactions.
Building on Tuesday's announcement, President Javier Milei posted from Israel on social media that he had sent the electoral reform bill to Congress. 'Se acabó la joda' (The party is over), he wrote, emphasizing the end of national PASO (Primarias, Abiertas, Simultáneas y Obligatorias) primaries.
Lawmaker Santilli highlighted savings of 'more than 200 million dollars' by shifting party candidate selection to internal processes without state funding.
Key provisions include 'ficha limpia,' excluding candidates or party leaders with second-instance corruption convictions; stricter rules for party creation/maintenance; bans on double candidacies and 'rubber-stamp' parties; limits on anonymous, foreign, or union donations with full transparency requirements; prohibition of foreign campaign advisors.
Electoral changes regulate Boleta Única Papel (BUP) with a 'full list' option, restrict official actions 25 days pre-election, eliminate mandatory presidential debates, and suspend direct Mercosur parliament elections until calendars align.
Peronism opposes PASO elimination, viewing it as essential for internals, while dialoguist opposition supports 'ficha limpia' but resists scrapping primaries. Economy Minister Luis Caputo has begun talks with governors, such as Chaco's Leandro Zdero. Milei stated: 'We must correct a vitiated system.' Parties have until 2027 to adapt.
