MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Budget superpowers for the Kirchner administration

Following fierce debating in Congress, Argentina's ruling coalition passed a bill granting the Executive super powers to modify budget execution avoiding legislative control.

The Financial Management bill extends the Cabinet Chief permanent powers to modify budget expenditure without the need of Congressional approval.

The eleven hours debate in the Lower House finally came to an end with 134 votes in favour and 91 against

Article 37 of the bill states that the Cabinet Chief is entitled to decide "budget restructuring which is considered necessary within the overall expenditure approved by each budget bill".

The ruling coalition of President Kirchner and several circumstantial allies supported the bill which was described by the opposition as the "death of the Republic".

Before the final approval in Congress, President Kirchner had demanded a quick consideration of the bill.

"Some people are trying to stop me. I need those instruments to rule", he said during a ceremony in the city of Rosario.

Confidential appropriations for security and intelligence are exempt from the limits established in the bill.

However in the rest of items Cabinet Chief Alberto Fernandez is now entitled to redesign the official federal budget, according to "necessity".

President Kirchner's wife, Senator Cristina Fernandez was the sponsor of the bill in the Senate three weeks ago where she was battered by the opposition with her won arguments recalling her rejection to a similar request from then Finance Minister Domingo Cavallo in 2001.

The bill also exempts the Cabinet Chief from expenditure limits contemplated in a previous Fiscal responsibility bill. Argentina's Congress is therefore now constricted to the approval of global budget expenditure and the cap to national debt.