Argentina Senate rejects President Mili’s Supreme Court appointment to defeat liberal leaders
Buenos Aires, Argentina (AP) – The Argentine Senate on Thursday rejected two Supreme Court candidates, nominated by a decree earlier this year, dealing a major blow to liberal leaders.
As analysts have said, Congress’ failure could complicate the implementation of Mili’s radical state overhaul of Argentina’s radical state, with the president who had hoped to fill the Supreme Court’s vacancies and the appointed man would dominate favorably against the challenges of his economic reform.
Milei, who bypassed Congress’ appointment of two controversial Supreme Court candidates in February, citing a clause in the Argentine Constitution, said he said he had the right to fill vacant seats during the Legislature’s summer break.
Politicians have severely criticized the move as a reversal of executive power, saying the president has extremely limited power to conduct judicial appointments during his Congress break.
“Serious institutional conflicts initiated by the executive branch over the legislative and judicial branch,” said Senator Anabel Fernández Sagasti of the Hardline opposition group Uniónporla Patria Party. “What we are talking about is an institutional attack.”
Milei’s two candidates – federal judge Ariel Lijo and conservative law professor Manuel García-Mansilla – failed to secure the two-thirds majority required to confirm the Senate candidate last year, with the president’s liberal coalition having only seven out of 72 seats.
Milei resorted to the presidential decree to fill two vacant seats in the five-judge court, testing the boundaries of his executive power as he has overcome his minority in Congress many times over the past year.
His nominee inspired heated debate throughout the political field. Lijo has been criticized by anti-corruption monitors and opposition from centrist parties, with his allegations alleged that he laundered money, abused the judicial authorities and grafting cases allocated to him in federal courts. Lijo denied the charge.
During a hours-long debate in the Senate on Thursday, middle-aged MP Luis Juez mentioned Lijo in the name of a famous Argentine hypnotist, saying: “I call him him because he will make your judicial case fit for political power.”
García-Mansilla faces resistance from a left-leaning Peronist opposition movement that holds 45% of the Senate seats because of his conservative stance on social issues such as abortion.
Milei fiercely defended his candidate, worthy of serving in the U.S. Supreme Court, and accused lawmakers of unfairly politicizing his nomination.
In a statement late Thursday, Millie’s office said it “rejected” the Senate vote.
“The Senate rejected the nomination proposed by the president, which was purely political and not for suitability reasons,” it said. He believes that putting two seats empty in court constitutes an effort to obstruct justice.
It said Miley will seek to “use all the tools that the Constitution and the people’s voting masters to restore confidence in the institutions.”
Others were amazed at the sign that Argentina’s democracy works.
“Today, the Argentine Senate has blocked one of the worst attacks on judicial independence since the country’s return to democracy,” said Juan Pappier, deputy director of Human Rights Watch. “President Miley risked some basic checks and balances that undermined Argentina’s democracy.”
