Argentina's ruling coalition secures cross-party backing for disability law ahead of vote

Argentina's ruling coalition brought a negotiated disability bill to the Chamber of Deputies after internal disagreements over the legislation. The text ends the disability emergency while expanding the existing law previously approved by the opposition. It contradicts positions the presidential office had supported months earlier.

Oscar Herrera Ahuad, a lawmaker from Misiones province aligned with Governor Hugo Passalaqcua, played a central role in negotiating the final version with allied blocs. He announced the last-minute changes in the chamber before the vote. Libertarian lawmakers Gisele Castelnuovo and Laura Rodríguez Machado also took part in the talks.

“Now we have to transfer this to the Budget, we are going to take everything from jurisdiction 91 so as not to alter the fiscal balance.”

The revised bill assigns funding to Jurisdiction 80 of the Health Ministry, covering non-contributory disability pensions, medical care for beneficiaries, and disability prevention and control programs. If program credits fall short, the gap will be covered through a budgetary compensation from Jurisdiction 91, labeled "Treasury Obligations," within health and social security activities.

The clause resolved resistance from allied lawmakers, the Economy Ministry, and the Legal and Technical Secretariat, who had opposed changes to the 2027 budget. Legislators told El Cronista that funds would be drawn from Jurisdiction 91 to avoid disturbing fiscal balance.

Article 7 adds provisions extending beyond the 2027 fiscal year. It requires budget laws to guarantee sufficient credit for the system's real and permanent sustainability. Per-beneficiary income must not fall below the previous year's level in real terms. The Cabinet Chief must make necessary budget adjustments each fiscal year.

La Nación reported that the government also secured support from the Provincias Unidas bloc and Peronist lawmakers, including Victoria Tolosa Paz and Sabrina Selva. The disability community expressed approval of the proposal after corrections were made, having previously favored extending the emergency regime.