Buenos Aires, Argentina – The Argentine Chamber of Deputies has greenlit a pivotal judicial reform bill mandating the “separation of careers” for judges and prosecutors, propelling the contentious legislation to the Senate for what could be its final showdown. The vote, a razor-thin 130-105 with nine abstentions, capped a marathon session marked by fiery speeches and procedural skirmishes, as President Javier Milei’s libertarian coalition flexed its muscle to push through a measure critics decry as a power grab over the judiciary.
Sponsored by Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona, the bill—officially the “Law on the Separation of Judicial Careers and the Public Ministry”—seeks to untangle the intertwined professional trajectories of magistrates and prosecutors, a system long accused of fostering favoritism and undue political influence. Under the new framework, careers would bifurcate into distinct paths: one for judges, another for prosecutors, with public defenders forming a third stream. Entry would demand rigorous, transparent competitive exams, while promotions would rely on merit metrics like performance reviews, seniority, and peer evaluations, overseen by autonomous selection councils rather than the politically volatile Judicial Council.
Supporters, spearheaded by La Libertad Avanza deputies like Albor Cantard, celebrated the passage as a bulwark against “judicial corporatism.” “This isn’t reform—it’s revolution,” Cantard thundered from the podium, arguing the changes would insulate the bench from executive meddling and restore faith in a system battered by corruption scandals. Milei, whose approval ratings have stabilized around 45% amid economic turbulence, took to X (formerly Twitter) to trumpet the win: “Today, we break the chains that have choked Argentine justice for decades. Onward to the Senate!” The president views the overhaul as integral to his broader “Ley Bases” agenda, which has already weathered Supreme Court scrutiny on fiscal and labor fronts.
Opposition voices, dominated by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s Unión por la Patria bloc, painted a darker picture. Deputy Leopoldo Moreau lambasted the bill as “decapitation of judicial independence,” warning it paves the way for Milei to install loyalists via a proposed Justice Ministry training hub that bypasses traditional safeguards. Judicial associations echoed the alarm, issuing a joint rebuke that the rushed process flouts constitutional norms and risks executive overreach, particularly in disciplinary powers now tilted toward the Supreme Court. “This separates careers only to consolidate control,” Moreau shot back, invoking ghosts of authoritarian eras.
The Senate now holds the keys, where Milei’s alliance commands a precarious 34 seats against the opposition’s 38—a margin demanding horse-trading with provincial independents. Debate kicks off next week, with likely amendments on prosecutor autonomy and budget lines. Passage requires a simple majority, but filibusters or delays loom large, especially as Milei juggles IMF talks and pension tweaks. If enacted, a two-year transition would realign thousands of officials, potentially reshaping caseloads in a judiciary already strained by 1.2 million pending cases.
This milestone arrives as Argentina hurtles toward October 26 midterm elections, where 127 House seats and 24 Senate spots hang in the balance—sans primaries, thanks to a separate suspension bill Milei rammed through earlier this month. The judicial push amplifies Milei’s narrative of “casting out the caste,” but skeptics fear it erodes checks on his austerity hammer. For a nation where courts have toppled presidents and probed billions in graft, the Senate’s verdict could either fortify the rule of law or fracture it further. As lawmakers adjourn, Buenos Aires buzzes: Will Milei’s scalpel heal the judiciary, or draw first blood?
Sources: Infobae, La Nación, Clarín, SAIJ, Congreso.gob.ar.