National deputy for Union for the Fatherland and former Defense Minister Agustín Rossi stated that "we are facing an attempt to turn the State Intelligence Secretariat (SIDE) into a secret police." This statement came after the publication of Decree 941, which expands the agency's powers. At the same time, he predicted that the opposition will try to debate the decree in Congress in February. In an interview with the Argentine News Agency, the former Chief of Staff also warned that one of the "gravely serious" aspects enabled by the decree-based reform is the "temporary apprehension of citizens without judicial authorization" by SIDE agents. "To this is added that it allows, at the mere request of the head of SIDE, to involve military personnel in intelligence matters. This only refers to the actions of SIDE during the military dictatorship," he warned. "Without a doubt, this is a gravely serious issue. We will make every necessary effort to try to reject the decree," emphasized the Santafesino. The Peronist lawmaker clarified that it is not necessary to wait until March 1 to activate legislative action against Decree 941, since as a "necessity and urgency" decree, Parliament "is obliged to deal with it immediately."
