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Argentina's Senate passed a private property bill early Friday morning by a 37-33 vote after a lengthy debate, but only after President Javier Milei's government was forced to abandon key sections of the legislation, including those that would have eased limits on foreign land ownership. The bill, which has faced fierce backlash from protesters and opposition, now moves to the lower house.

Coverage Comparison

The Buenos Aires Times reported that the government removed the bill's centrepiece provision on Wednesday, which would have lifted restrictions on the sale of rural land to foreign buyers. A version introduced this week had raised the limit to 25 percent at the national and provincial levels, but that section was shelved. The original bill, introduced in March, had eliminated caps on foreign land ownership entirely, from a current limit of 15 percent.

The surviving parts of the legislation would expedite evictions, ease property recovery after the state takes ownership, and remove land-use restrictions after fires. The decision to strip the foreign ownership provisions came after a Wednesday afternoon meeting of Senate bloc leaders representing the 44 senators from Milei's party and its allies.

Key Claims

  • The bill passed the Senate in a 37-33 vote early Friday morning after a lengthy debate.
  • The government removed a key section that would have eased land-use restrictions in the aftermath of a fire, intentional or not.
  • The bill's original centrepiece, which eased limits on foreign property ownership, was stripped out on Wednesday.
  • The existing law limits foreign ownership to 15 percent of rural land in each province and each individual municipality.
  • More than 13 million hectares of Argentine land are owned by foreigners, according to a study by the University of Buenos Aires and the CONICET national scientific research institute.
  • Thousands of people marched in Buenos Aires on Thursday to protest the bill, with clashes erupting between demonstrators and police outside Congress.
  • Security forces dispersed protesters with rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon after demonstrators threw stones at officers.
  • At least two police officers and one protester were injured, according to local media reports. Ten people were also arrested, though there was no official confirmation. A photojournalist was struck in the head, the Buenos Aires press workers' union SIPREBA said.
  • The clashes and police crackdown lasted for more than four hours. By around 8pm local time, the square outside Congress had been cleared, although sporadic confrontations continued nearby.
  • Protesters quoted by the Buenos Aires Times included Roxana Parapugna, a 51-year-old sociologist, who said, "I want the entire bill to be defeated," and Carlos Miño, a 67-year-old pensioner, who said, "Almost the entire bill points in the same direction: handing over our assets, our property, one way or another."
  • Pop stars, actors and other public figures joined leftist politicians and labor unions in accusing the government of trying to sell off Argentina's land.

Perspectives

Government: The government, led by President Javier Milei, argued the bill was necessary to spur private investment in Argentina, which has been constrained by decades of interventionist state policies. The removal of the foreign ownership provisions was described as a response to public uproar, but the government maintained the surviving parts of the legislation would facilitate investment.

Protesters and Opposition: Trade unions, left-wing parties, social organisations, and public figures opposed the bill, accusing the government of attempting to sell off national assets. They organised the demonstration outside Congress, where clashes with police occurred. Protesters expressed a desire for the entire bill to be defeated, viewing it as handing over national property.

Police: Security forces were tasked with dispersing the demonstrators, using rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon. The clashes resulted in injuries and arrests, with police officers among those injured.