The president of the Encuentro Federal block in the Chamber of Deputies, Miguel Ángel Pichetto, confirmed his vote in favor of the project to suspend the primary elections (PASO) from this year's electoral calendar. In his presentation during the special session of the lower house, the veteran legislator highlighted that the outcome of the 2019 presidential primaries created fragility in the economic and institutional framework of the country.
He recalled that the victory of the presidential formula of Alberto Fernández and Cristina Kirchner over Mauricio Macri in the 2019 PASO triggered an imbalance in the currency market, with the dollar jumping from 20 to 40 pesos in a matter of days. Pichetto pointed out that this situation significantly affected the economy of Macri's government.
In Pichetto’s opinion, the suspension of the 2025 primaries reflects the society's fatigue with the number of elections. He emphasized the differences in voting dates between local and national elections in several provinces and municipalities, resulting in an electoral overload.
The legislator argued that the PASO in presidential elections alter the constitutional and political process, advocating for greater organization and clarity in the election of deputies and senators ahead of October. Additionally, he raised the need for a potential constitutional reform to align legislative mandates with the presidential term.
Pichetto also stressed the importance of reviewing the runoff system, a system of French origin incorporated into a constitution with American roots, highlighting the need to reach consensus on these changes with political parties.
