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Government Opens Talks to Make Argentina’s PASO Optional

The shift seeks to build the Senate support needed to pass a broader electoral reform by offering allies a negotiable alternative to eliminating mandatory primaries.

Overview

  • The government authorized modifications to its electoral reform package and reopened negotiations with allied blocs after talks led by Interior Minister Diego Santilli and Chamber head Martín Menem, a step reported on May 29, 2026.
  • Lawmakers are studying a UCR proposal from Senator Eduardo Vischi that would make PASO non‑mandatory, allow parties without internal contests to skip primaries, require voter pre‑registration, and set a 10% padron threshold for a primary to proceed.
  • The executive keeps other major changes in the package, including adjustments to the Boleta Única Papel to permit a single‑party vote box, a Ficha Limpia to bar candidates convicted in second instance, and new rules on public and private party financing.
  • The Casa Rosada is also proposing use of the Mi Argentina platform to validate identities and certify endorsements under supervision of the National Electoral Justice, a technical measure intended to streamline administration and preserve ballot secrecy.
  • Negotiations reflect divisions within the governing coalition—notably between UCR and PRO—and aim to secure the votes the reform needs in the Senate; the talks are ongoing and the final text and timetable remain unsettled.