The national government stopped presenting the elimination of the PASO as immediate and is considering moving the discussion to December. The change of pace appeared after the governors of Norte Grande voiced objections to the project. A deputy from La Libertad Avanza acknowledged that the bloc is not in a hurry and linked the electoral reform to a broader political negotiation.
The possible exchange includes the reduction of the Zonas Frías regime for gas and compensation through Zonas Cálidas, aimed at provinces where high temperatures increase electricity consumption. The issue gained momentum after a visit from the Minister of the Interior, Diego Santilli, to Posadas. The leaders demand guarantees regarding that assistance before supporting changes in energy subsidies.
In the Casa Rosada they consider that there are votes to modify Zonas Frías and eliminate the primaries, but Senate allies express doubts about that count. A governor told Santilli that the elimination of the PASO cannot be evaluated without knowing the complete electoral calendar and rules. The minister committed to forwarding the proposal to the pro-government strategist Lule Menem.
The discussion also mobilized Unión por la Patria. Sergio Massa, José Mayans, Germán Martínez, Máximo Kirchner, Axel Kicillof and four space governors held a meeting of approximately three hours to defend the continuity of the primaries. Participants of that meeting interpreted that the Government seeks to eliminate them to facilitate the reelection of Javier Milei; that attribution is part of the opposition dispute.
La Libertad Avanza maintains a favorable expectation about Milei's presidential candidacy in 2027, but that electoral calculation does not replace the votes needed in Congress. The postponement allows for extending conversations with governors who are not part of the libertarian core and who could have different positions depending on the fiscal, energy, and political compensations included in the package.
For now, there is no approved law, no definitive ruling, nor a confirmed date for discussion. December appears as a negotiation horizon, not as a guarantee of sanction. The discussion will need to clarify what will happen with the PASO, how the electoral calendar will be organized, and whether the energy changes will advance within the same agreement or through separate channels in both chambers.
