Argentine Senate Rejects Milei's Vetoes Ahead of Elections

In a significant political development, Argentine lawmakers have dealt a blow to President Javier Milei by overturning two of his vetoes. The legislative move comes as a setback for the libertarian leader, whose economic reform agenda stands at a crossroads.

The Senate, controlled by the opposition, voted decisively to override Milei's vetoes on bills aimed at augmenting funding for public universities and pediatric healthcare. The votes, with counts of 59-7 and 58-7 respectively, reflect a clear opposition stance against Milei's fiscal strategy, which focuses on deep austerity to shrink government size. The President has argued that the increased spending threatens Argentina's fiscal balance.

This legislative pushback is not an isolated incident. Last month, the Argentine congress overturned another of Milei's vetoes, reinstating funds for disability aid. With midterm elections scheduled for October 26, Milei's popularity is waning amid a corruption scandal and public dissatisfaction with his austerity measures.