A Historic Day in Argentina's Senate
After nearly 12 hours of heated debate, Argentina's Senate granted partial approval (media sanción) to the Law of Inviolability of Private Property on August 7, 2026, with 37 votes in favor and 33 against. The session was presided over by the Senate's provisional president, Bartolomé Abdala, due to the official trips of Vice President Victoria Villarruel and President Javier Milei. This vote marks a significant milestone in the country's legislative agenda.
The bill, promoted by the Ministry of Deregulation led by Federico Sturzenegger, advanced after intense negotiations. To secure the necessary votes and avoid a political defeat, the ruling party decided to withdraw two sensitive chapters: one that would have relaxed restrictions on foreign ownership of rural land (Chapter III) and another that would have modified the Fire Management Law (Chapter IV). The project now moves to the Chamber of Deputies for further debate.
Key Changes for Property Owners and Tenants
The core of the approved law is a deep reform of the eviction system, aiming to give the judiciary faster tools:
- Express evictions: All eviction processes will now follow a summary procedure to speed up court resolutions.
- Usurpations: Judges can order immediate property handover if the claimant's right appears credible and the plaintiff provides a sworn bond.
- Judicial inspection: Courts must inspect the property within 72 hours to identify occupants.
- Notice to tenants: Before suing for unpaid rent, landlords must formally notify tenants and give at least 10 calendar days to settle the debt.
- Key consignment: If a landlord refuses to accept keys, tenants can deposit them with the court and stop paying rent.
Special protections are included for homes with minors, disabled persons, or vulnerable elderly residents.
Stricter Expropriation Rules
The law also tightens conditions for state expropriation. Declarations of public utility must be interpreted restrictively and justified precisely.
Compensation will consider the objective value of the property and limit lost profits to a maximum of 30% of direct damages, unless the affected party proves a greater loss. During the debate, Minister Patricia Bullrich criticized the current system, noting that the average time to receive expropriation compensation is 18 years.
Political Cost and Internal Tensions
To secure the partial approval, the ruling party had to make concessions. The removal of Chapter III on foreign land ownership came after opposition from several governors and moderate blocs. Hours later, the Fire Management Law reform was also dropped, maintaining restrictions on using burned land for 30 and 60 years.
The session was not without clashes. Bullrich had a confrontation with her fellow senator Joaquín Benegas Lynch, who called allies 'timid.' She also blocked a request by Senator Anabel Fernández Sagasti to vote virtually. Defending the project, Bullrich said that 'private property is certainty for citizens' and that with this law 'Argentines will have justice' against usurpations.
Social Pressure and Protests
The session took place amid high social tension. Outside Congress, incidents occurred after a police crackdown that, according to human rights organizations, left more than 1,500 injured and 28 detained. A photographer suffered a skull fracture and was hospitalized at Argerich Hospital, though she is reported to be recovering.
Meanwhile, over 50,000 people marched in Buenos Aires for the Day of San Cayetano, demanding peace, bread, land, housing, and work. Public figures like singer Tini Stoessel condemned the law on social media. Some polls suggest nearly 80% of Argentines support limits on foreign land purchases, explaining the resistance to the withdrawn chapter.
Sources: Senate of Argentina, El Economista, La Nación, Infobae.