- Senate rejects two nominees with 43-27 and 51-21 opposition votes
- Appointees faced prior corruption allegations and ideological opposition
- Milei used controversial constitutional clause for recess appointments
- Court vacancies stall crucial rulings on economic reforms
- HRW warns of democratic safeguards erosion
Argentina's political landscape faced seismic shifts as lawmakers delivered a stinging rejection to President Javier Milei's Supreme Court nominations. The Senate's decisive vote against federal judge Ariel Lijo and legal scholar Manuel García-Mansilla exposes deepening fractures between the executive and legislative branches, with lasting implications for judicial independence.
This confrontation stems from Milei's February decision to invoke Article 99 of Argentina's Constitution, bypassing standard confirmation processes during congressional recess. While previous administrations like Mauricio Macri's 2016 tax reform push employed similar tactics, legal experts note this marks the first judicial appointment attempt using recess powers since Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's 2013 court expansion controversy.
Lijo's nomination proved particularly contentious, with 43 senators opposing confirmation amid unresolved money laundering investigations. Center-right coalition leaders highlighted 14 unresolved federal cases languishing in Lijo's court docket since 2019. García-Mansilla faced progressive resistance over his anti-abortion writings, despite support from conservative Catholic groups.
The political deadlock mirrors regional patterns observed in Brazil's 2020 Supreme Court confirmation battles, where Bolsonaro appointees faced similar ideological litmus tests. Like Argentina's current standoff, Brazilian lawmakers ultimately blocked three presidential nominees through procedural delays and coalition bargaining.
Milei's office condemned the vote as institutional sabotage,claiming empty court seats could delay 78 pending cases related to dollarization reforms and state privatization plans. However, constitutional law professors from Universidad de Buenos Aires counter that Article 117 mandates active judicial oversight regardless of vacancy counts.
Market analysts warn the impasse could stall Milei's ambitious economic agenda, with bond yields rising 0.8% following the Senate decision. Without friendly judicial review, key reforms face injunctions from provincial courts,noted Banco Galicia chief economist Diego Martínez. This creates regulatory uncertainty that deters foreign investment.
As international observers monitor Argentina's institutional crisis, the White House issued cautious statements urging respect for democratic norms.Meanwhile, Mercosur trade partners prepare contingency plans for potential legal challenges to bilateral agreements should Argentina's court remain understaffed.
