President Javier Milei intends to ensure that the newly elected Congress, set to take office in October, forgoes its customary summer recess. This measure aims to facilitate timely votes on his proposed reforms and the budget before the conclusion of the year. Cabinet Chief Manuel Adorni announced that the president is set to sign a decree convening Congress for a special legislative session from December 10 to 30. Typically, following elections, the newly elected Congress convenes for a ceremonial inaugural session on December 10 and subsequently adjourns for a recess until its first regular session commences on March 1. The 2026 budget includes plans to reform labor laws and the penal code, with an emphasis on increasing penalties for offenders, as noted. Debates will also take place regarding amendments aimed at loosening Argentina’s Glacier Protection Law. Milei asserts that protected areas “are not well defined” and expresses his intention to empower each province to make decisions and promote mining activity.
The anticipated labour law reforms, which remain officially undisclosed in detail, are expected to encounter significant opposition and may incite widespread protests. Reports indicated that Milei aims to introduce more flexible working hours, which could translate to significantly longer workdays, alongside facilitating the hiring and firing of employees. The proposals have received backing from business chambers while facing opposition from trade unions. On the fiscal front, it aims to enact a “presumption of innocence” law, which elevates the minimum thresholds for classifying tax evasion as a crime and reduces its statute of limitations. It will additionally advocate for legislation aimed at prohibiting fiscal deficits and imposing criminal penalties for the act of money-printing.
The government has declared its intention to advocate for more stringent penalties and the elimination of the statute of limitations for serious offenses, among other measures, in the reform of the criminal code. Following his decisive victory in the midterm elections of October, Milei now possesses a significantly enhanced legislative position for the latter half of his term. Nevertheless, he will continue to engage in negotiations with provincial governors and various political coalitions to advance his free-market agenda.
The 257-seat Chamber of Deputies is characterized by the absence of an absolute majority held by any single party. Milei’s La Libertad Avanza party, alongside its centre-right ally, the PRO party led by former president Mauricio Macri, will collectively hold 107 seats. La Libertad Avanza has emerged as the leading minority in the chamber. The critical benchmark was one-third of the seats, enabling Milei’s caucus to obstruct opposition legislation.