The Argentine government has decided to leave behind the plan of implementing a 'colectoras' system for the 2027 elections and is now focusing all its energy on eliminating the PASO (Primarias Abiertas, Simultáneas y Obligatorias) – the open, simultaneous, and mandatory primary elections. This was confirmed by official sources to LA NACION and Infobae, amid a complex political landscape where allies show doubts and the UCR (Radical Civic Union) begins to dream of its own presidential candidate.
The decision came after the colectoras plan – which would have allowed allied governors to attach their lists to Javier Milei's candidacy – 'did not end up convincing' even within the ruling party. Now, the focus is on the electoral reform that eliminates PASO, a bill that entered the Senate on April 22 but has yet to make concrete progress.
The New Plan: Eliminate PASO Before October
According to LA NACION, the ruling party aims to have a definition on the future of PASO before October, to meet the deadlines set by the National Electoral Chamber. Chief of Staff Diego Santilli has already toured several provinces with an agenda focused on addressing governors' demands, from road concessions to energy tariff requests.
In Congress, the ruling party has also made gestures: it activated paralyzed committees and dusted off initiatives from provincial legislators. For example, the Budget Committee issued a ruling on a bill by Misiones' Oscar Herrera Ahuad to reduce the VAT on cassava starch to 10.5%, and the General Legislation Committee advanced symbolic recognitions for several provinces.
Allies' Resistance and the Ghost of the Land Law
But the strategy of rapprochement clashes with distrust. The ruling party's defeat with the Land Law in the Senate left wounds. Some allied governors, who even supported that measure, now hesitate. 'Trust is lacking,' they warned Infobae.
Chancellor Pablo Quirno had sparked controversy by stating that a foreigner could buy a municipality or a province, which, combined with social rejection (with figures like Tini and Emilia Mernes), complicated the climate. 'When things are poorly explained, things go wrong,' said Corrientes governor Juan Pablo Valdés, blaming La Libertad Avanza for poor communication.
The UCR Looks Toward 2027
In this context, a sector of radicalism has begun to question its support for eliminating PASO. For the UCR, primaries are a key tool for resolving leadership, and now some leaders are excited about the possibility of competing for the presidency.
The group 'Radicales, estamos a tiempo', which brings together historical figures like Ernesto Sanz, Jesús Rodríguez, and Mario Negri, raised the need for the UCR to have its own candidate to avoid repeating the failure of 2023. Among the names mentioned are Maximiliano Pullaro, Gustavo Valdés, and Alfredo Cornejo, though none have confirmed interest so far.
'We will work to have candidates everywhere,' they insist from the party. And they defend PASO: 'The attempt to eliminate them is a trap to favor Kirchnerist prominence in 2027,' they argue.
The PRO: Between Support and Distrust
Within the PRO, support for eliminating PASO is not unanimous. While Rogelio Frigerio and Ignacio 'Nacho' Torres maintain their backing, other leaders like Fernando de Andreis expressed discomfort over attacks by libertarian economists against Macrism during the debate on the BCRA reform.
'It is very difficult to build trust if you tell me something there and then deny it in public,' De Andreis reproached Bertie Benegas Lynch. The PRO demands that LLA not dispute its territories, but approving the reform would be a leap into the void without guarantees.
Cold Zones and Warm Zones: The Bargaining Chip
The government knows it needs votes and therefore includes in the negotiation the reduction of Cold Zones (gas subsidies) and compensation with Warm Zones, a 'traffic light' system of tariffs based on temperature. Governors from the Norte Grande condition their support for the Energy Measures law on these guarantees.
'We are not in a huge hurry,' said a libertarian deputy, but the calendar is pressing. The Casa Rosada is confident it will have the votes, though Senate allies doubt it. Meanwhile, the UCR prepares to fight.
Key Points of the Negotiation
- Objective: Eliminate PASO before October.
- Colectoras plan: Discarded due to lack of internal consensus.
- Allies: PRO and UCR show doubts; Norte Grande governors demand guarantees on Warm Zones.
- UCR: Seeks its own presidential candidate and defends PASO.
- Next step: Meetings with radical governors in the coming days.
Sources: LA NACION, Infobae, La Política Online