Buenos Aires (EFE).- Argentine President Javier Milei vetoed two social protection laws passed by Congress in July, including an “exceptional and emergency” pension increase and legislation declaring a national disability emergency. The decision, confirmed by official sources, comes as part of Milei’s strict push for a zero-deficit fiscal policy.
Milei’s veto blocks a 7.2% pension hike and a long-stagnant bonus increase, both approved on Jul. 10 to address widespread poverty among Argentina’s 7.4 million retirees, 63.5% of whom receive the minimum monthly pension of 314,300 pesos (around 228 dollars).
With a frozen bonus of 70,000 pesos (517 dollars), total monthly income rises to 384,300 pesos (279 dollars).
But this remains far below the poverty threshold for older adults, which the Buenos Aires Elderly Ombudsman’s Office estimates at 1.2 million pesos (873 dollars), citing higher healthcare and living costs for seniors.
“This income keeps millions of retirees in poverty,” said a representative of the Elderly Ombudsman’s Office, calling the veto “a brutal blow” to those most vulnerable under Milei’s economic adjustment policies.
Disability law also vetoed
Alongside the pension measure, Milei vetoed a law declaring a disability emergency through 2027.
The legislation would have required the government to ensure sufficient funding for disability pensions and strengthen assistance programs for persons with disabilities, a group that has staged multiple protests in recent months.
The president had previously announced his intent to reject both laws, claiming they threatened fiscal discipline.
“Deficit zero is not negotiable,” Milei said in recent public statements.
According to the Congressional Budget Office, the pension increase would cost 0.41% of GDP, the bonus adjustment 0.38%, and the disability law between 0.28% and 0.51%.
Argentina, which posted a 0.9% primary fiscal surplus in the first half of 2025, aims to reach a 1.6% surplus by year-end and 2.2% in 2026.
Congress faces override challenge
The veto decree will be published Monday in the Official Gazette, triggering a legislative process in which Congress must decide whether to uphold or override the president’s decision.
To reverse the veto, a two-thirds majority is required in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
If either chamber fails to meet that threshold, the veto stands.
Although Milei’s party holds a minority in both chambers, he has previously succeeded in upholding vetoes through deals with allies and parts of the opposition.
Lawmakers across party lines now face mounting pressure to act.
“These are laws to address hunger, exclusion, and abandonment,” opposition legislator Myriam Bregman said. “Vetoing them is not fiscal responsibility, it’s cruelty.” EFE
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