On 26 October, Argentina held legislative elections to renew half of the members of the Chamber of Deputies (127 seats) and one-third of the members of the Senate (24 seats). Two main political coalitions won the majority of votes across the country: the incumbent La Libertad Avanza (LLA) and the opposition Fuerza Patria/Peronismo (FP) alliance. In the Chamber of Deputies, LLA received 41.5 per cent of the vote, followed by FP with 34.9 per cent. In the Senate, LLA also led with 42.0 per cent, while FP followed with 36.9 per cent. Despite voting being mandatory, voter turnout was 67.9 per cent, down from 71.5 per cent in the 2021 mid-term legislative elections. At the time of writing, data on women elected to Congress was not available. This election marked the first time the country voted using a Single Paper Ballot (SPB), replacing the previous party ballot system.

Sources:  BBC, Buenos Aires Herald, Infobae, Resultados Elecciones, Cámara Nacional Electoral 

On 8 October, Argentina’s lower chamber of Congress approved a bill aimed at restricting the use of decrees of necessity and urgency (DNU), a legislative tool frequently employed by President Javier Milei to advance his reform agenda. The bill, which had already passed the Senate, introduces stricter controls, requiring DNUs to gain approval from both chambers of Congress rather than just one, and allowing either chamber to annul them. This amendment, seen as a measure to curb executive overreach, marks a significant challenge to Milei, who has issued around 70 such decrees during his term due to his lack of a congressional majority. The legislation now returns to the Senate for final review and approval. However, it still requires presidential promulgation, and Milei retains the option to veto the measure.

Sources: Camara de Diputados, Swissinfo, Info Bae, Pagina 12

On 4 September, Congress overturned President Milei’s veto of a law aimed at improving disability benefits. The law declares disability a national emergency amid worsening conditions for citizens with disabilities affected by Milei’s austerity measures. This is the first time in 22 years that Congress has overturned a presidential veto—which requires a two-thirds majority and signifies the law’s final approval. The president had vetoed Law No. 27.793, originally approved by Congress in June, citing a lack of funds and accusing Congress of fiscal irresponsibility for passing it. According to experts and rights groups, the law’s final approval represents a crucial improvement in the living conditions of one of the most vulnerable sectors of society and among the hardest hit by government cuts in social welfare. The new law declares a national emergency on disability until the end of 2026, raising pensions for people with disability and guaranteeing increased public spending to support their rights.

Sources: Boletin Oficial, El Pais, The guardian, Chequeado

On 1 September, a federal court issued an injunction prohibiting the broadcast of audio recordings featuring Karina Milei, Secretary of the Presidency and sister of President Javier Milei. The recordings, secretly recorded inside the Casa Rosada (President’s office), reportedly contain evidence of a supposed corruption scheme that surfaced in August, allegedly involving Karina Milei and senior officials accused of receiving kickbacks from the purchase of medication through the National Disability Agency. The ban followed earlier leaks of recordings featuring Diego Spagnuolo, the agency’s former head, appearing to admit the scheme and implicating Karina Milei. Journalists had announced plans to release additional recordings featuring Milei. Judge Patricio Maraniello argued that the dissemination of these recordings could harm Milei’s privacy and reputation, and jeopardize her work. Press freedom watchdogs have called the ruling a severe threat to press freedom and to the public’s right to access information in Argentina.

Update: Following an appeal presented by a journalist against the gag order imposed on the publication of audios, Karina Milei asked the court to lift the ban on 15 September, noting that the audio recordings had already been published by foreign media and no longer posed a national security risk. Consequently, on 16 September, a federal court in Buenos Aires lifted the ban. 

Sources: Reporters without borders, El Pais, Buenos Aires Herald, AP News, Global Freedom of Expression, Nuevos Papeles

On 1 July, President Milei signed decree 445/2025, introducing major changes to law 27.192 and dissolving the National Agency for Controlled Material (ANMaC), an independent body created in 2015 by broad Congressional consensus to prevent gun violence. It will be replaced by an office under the Ministry of Security focused mainly on firearms registration. The decree follows earlier measures that deregulate the gun market, including lifting a ban on civilian access to high-caliber semiautomatic weapons, lowering the legal age for purchase, and loosening the process for obtaining permits. Civil society groups have urged Congress to reject the decree, warning that it shifts policy from violence prevention to mere registry and risks fuelling gun violence. They argue that lifting the ban on semiautomatics and lowering the purchasing age could flood the legal market with weapons and feed organized crime. Critics also denounce the use of presidential decrees to bypass legislation passed by Congress with broad support.

Sources: El Pais, Red Argentina para el Desarme, Chequeado, Pagina 12, Presidencia de la Nacion
 

On 10 June, Argentina’s Supreme Court upheld a 2022 federal court conviction of former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on corruption charges, rejecting her appeals. The ruling permanently bans her from holding public office and sentences her to six years in prison, to be served under house arrest. Tens of thousands Fernández de Kirchner’s supporters demonstrated against the ruling nationwide, calling it an undemocratic attempt to sideline the opposition’s leading figure. In an already polarized political climate, the verdict has sharply divided legal experts and politicians. Some view it as a victory for judicial independence and accountability, while others see it as a politically motivated move, rushed through ahead of critical midterm elections. Her legal team has announced plans to appeal the decision to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, although experts note that the process may take several years and is unlikely to yield different results.

Sources: International IDEA, Chequeado, El pais, Buenos Aires Times, La Nacion

On 17 June, President Javier Milei announced significant changes to Argentina’s federal police through Decree 383/2025. The decree aims to redefine the functions, objectives and mission of the federal police, transforming it into a criminal investigation force. Human rights organizations have raised concerns, warning that the decree grants the police discretionary powers to carry out arrests and surveillance without judicial warrants under weak oversight mechanisms. They argue that the vague provisions could enable the criminalization of dissent and cyber-patrolling of opponents with grave impacts on civil liberties. Critics also contend that such structural reforms require congressional approval and broad public debate involving civil society. Opposition politicians have announced plans to challenge the decree, calling it unconstitutional for exceeding the scope of the legislative powers granted to President Milei under the controversial ‘Ley Bases’.

Sources: El Pais, Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales, Chequeado, Presidencia de la Nacion, Infobae, International IDEA