Overview

• Interior Minister Lisandro Catalán said 15.5 billion pesos in underspent election funds are available to cover a reprint.
• Published estimates put the potential cost between about 12.17 billion and 15 billion pesos.
• Catalán said the reprint is feasible within the remaining timeline, but the decision rests with Buenos Aires electoral judge Alejo Ramos Padilla, whose ruling is expected by Thursday.
• If the court declines to order new ballots, the government pledged to return the earmarked funds to the Treasury.
• The issue follows Espert’s resignation over reported links to narco figure Fred Machado and has drawn scrutiny given ongoing austerity and comparisons to foregone social benefits.