The governing bloc wants to add Land Law provisions to a private-property bill as the opposition prepares an October 15 session and the Supreme Court considers a separate request for interim relief.
Argentina’s La Libertad Avanza bloc in the Chamber of Deputies is preparing to attach provisions on the Land Law to a bill on the inviolability of private property. La Nación reports that the government is trying to reach agreement with its allies ahead of an opposition session scheduled for October 15 and a possible Supreme Court ruling on a separate request for interim relief that could restore limits on foreign purchases of land.
The governing bloc wants to add the land provisions to a bill that has already received preliminary Senate approval and has been sent to the Constitutional Affairs and General Legislation committees. A committee session is scheduled for next Wednesday. Senators previously removed from the bill provisions on foreign ownership of land and changes to the Forest Fire Management Law.
The dispute follows the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a ruling that had declared Article 154 of emergency decree DNU 70/2023 unconstitutional. That article repealed restrictions on foreign purchases of rural land. The court is separately considering a filing by environmental group Asociación Civil Árbol de Pie. La Nación reports that the justices shortened the time allowed for consideration and scheduled a conference for 9 a.m. The newspaper says a decision on interim relief could follow soon. That remains a reported possibility, not a ruling already issued.
If the court temporarily restores the restrictions, the governing bloc could avoid reopening a difficult debate in Congress. The Senate earlier rejected a proposal to raise the share of land that foreign individuals or companies could own from 15% to 25%. The government has little room to offer a different formula, according to the newspaper.
La Nación reports that government allies from PRO, Provincias Unidas and MID demanded a quick response at a meeting with La Libertad Avanza representatives and Treasury Secretary Carlos Guberman. Some lawmakers from those blocs do not support a full repeal of the limits. Some had also considered helping the opposition reach a quorum for its October 15 session. At least 129 deputies must be present to open debate. Representatives of Unión por la Patria and Provincias Unidas told the newspaper they plan to attend."