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Argentina Unveils No-Deficit Fiscal Bill With Criminal Penalties, Seeks December Passage

The proposal concentrates enforcement in the Executive to impose strict budget discipline during execution.

Overview

  • The government circulated a 13-page draft, the National Commitment for Fiscal and Monetary Stability Law, and plans to push it in extraordinary sessions this month.
  • It sets an absolute ban on approving deficit budgets, tying congressional appropriations to volatile revenue and inflation outcomes.
  • The Chief of Cabinet would gain authority to cut appropriations during the fiscal year when revenues fall short or expenses rise.
  • The bill forbids assuming expenditures without authorization and blocks temporary advances from the central bank to finance primary spending.
  • It creates two new Penal Code offenses for fiscal breaches and irregular monetary issuance, and declares violating norms absolutely null, a rigidity critics say could spur litigation and judicial intervention.