The bloc of provincial deputies from the Civic Coalition presented this Thursday a bill to introduce modifications to the PASO primary elections in the province, making them optional in 2027. “The PASO were designed to democratize the selection of candidates, but today it is necessary to review them so that they effectively fulfill that objective and do not generate confusion or weariness among citizens,” assured De Leo. The project presented aims to “the citizen will not be obliged to attend the PASO because it would become optional.” “The initiative does not imply the suppression of the primary election system, but its adaptation to criteria of reasonableness, institutional efficiency, and respect for the autonomy of the voter's will, eliminating the obligation of citizen participation,” it was stated in the project. Fronts or political parties will not participate in the PASO if they have single lists, according to this proposal from the CC. The project was signed by the head of the Buenos Aires CC, Andrés De Leo, along with his peers Luciano Bugallo and Romina Braga, confirmed the Argentina News Agency. What does the project say It proposes the “review of the functioning of the PASO to avoid distortions in their original objective as a tool for the internal selection of candidacies; improve the transparency of the electoral process, guaranteeing clear rules for political parties and voters; and optimize electoral resources through the reduction of unnecessary costs.” Regarding the need to optimize public resources, the project promoted by De Leo indicates that “making the PASO optional allows the mechanism to remain available for those parties or fronts that actually need to resolve internal disputes, but without imposing generalized spending in all cases.” “The organization of primaries with a mandatory character implies a deployment of a logistical, administrative, and economic magnitude that includes the printing of rolls, the hiring of table authorities, security, electoral infrastructure, and the financing of campaigns. When said elections lack real competition or are irrelevant to the voter, the cost of the process becomes disproportionate in relation to its utility,” it was expressed.
