Congress Overrides Disability Budget Veto with Two-Thirds Majority

Argentina's Chamber of Deputies has overridden President Javier Milei's veto of the disability emergency support law. With 172 votes in favor, 73 against, and 2 abstentions, Congress secured the constitutionally required two-thirds majority, defying the government's will.

The Milei administration anticipated the defeat and made an emergency announcement of disability benefit increases just before the vote, but failed to sway Congress. The "87 Heroes" who had defended last year's pension increase veto shrank to 73 members—a defection of 14 lawmakers.

Pension Increase Bill Narrowly Blocked Again

Immediately after the disability budget defeat, the government launched emergency lobbying and narrowly defended its veto of the pension increase bill. This was achieved through a combination of pressure and persuasion.

On Thursday, the Senate rejected four emergency decrees that had abolished or restructured the Highway Agency, National Genetic Data Bank, Agricultural and Livestock Technology Research Institute, Industrial Technology Research Institute, and Merchant Marine Academy. This effectively put the brakes on Milei's preferred method of governing by presidential decree.

October Midterm Elections Will Determine Fate

Milei aims to increase Chamber seats in the October general election to secure the veto defense line (one-third) independently. The current congressional configuration relies on alliances with the pro-government PRO party, parts of the UCR, and provincial governors, but cracks are widening within these groups.

The next Senate session will vote on pediatric medical emergency support and university funding bills, and will proceed with the confirmation process for rejecting emergency decrees. Milei's "chainsaw governance" is repeatedly hitting walls on socially resonant issues including pensions, disability benefits, Garrahan Children's Hospital, and universities.

Corruption Allegations Spread to Presidential Inner Circle

Just before the congressional vote, the Milei government abruptly dismissed Diego Spagnolo, head of the National Disability Agency. This followed the leak of audio files suggesting he received kickbacks in pharmaceutical procurement processes.

The problem is that the names of the president's sister Karina Milei and Chamber President Eduardo Menem appear in the transcripts. Allegations of illegal fund generation using the Disability Agency as a front have now spread to the president's closest associates.

The dismissal announcement came just 20 minutes before voting began in the Chamber on establishing an investigative committee for the $LIBRA cryptocurrency fraud case. This was the worst possible timing for the government.

Second-Year Milei Government Faces Accelerating Alliance Fractures

The Milei government, which has neutralized Congress for two years through vetoes and emergency decrees, now faces social fatigue. Citizens' frustrations—working more while facing increasingly uncertain paydays—are manifesting in concrete issues like pensions, disability benefits, hospitals, and universities.

Ahead of the October general election, the Liberty Advances party has finalized coalition lists with PRO, UCR, and some governors, but this process has also generated opposition forces. Maintaining the congressional alliance is expected to become increasingly difficult.