From the parliamentary yellow bloc, they affirmed that they are still negotiating, minute by minute, with opposition deputies. “We are still negotiating and working on it,” they commented. Meanwhile, time passes and the risk increases that Jorge Macri will not have a Budget for the coming year. “It’s difficult,” they summarized from one of the benches. On the eve of the session, LLA and other blocs orbiting it refused to close ranks with the proposed by the chief of government and expressed their dissatisfaction. This same afternoon, from the libertarian bloc, they denied an approximation between the parties to pass the law, although they did not rule out that, close to the buzzer, negotiations could be resumed. During the day, the titular of the libertarian bloc, Pilar Ramírez, announced that her bloc will vote against it and raised the tension to the maximum with the yellow proposal. “With or without a recess, the Budget will not be voted on. It increases the political structure and useless spending, against the government’s national trend and, above all, the porteños,” Ramírez fired on her social media. Furthermore, she said that the project is a “tax hike.” “We will not vote on a Budget that is above the expected inflation for 2025. This is not a budget update, it’s a tax hike,” she launched. The same had been done before by the libertarian legislator Ramiro Marra. Regarding this, he commented that “if the government of the city does not reduce taxes and expenses by 500,000 million pesos, I will not vote on the budget.” Yamil Santoro, deputy of the city by the Republicanos Unidos force, chose the same path. “Today the 2025 Budget is being voted on in the Buenos Aires Legislative Assembly and the liberal deputies have a firm position: the public expenditure and tax burden must be reduced by 500,000,000,000. Want our votes? Adjust, cheers,” he launched.
Jorge Macri Rushes to Negotiate 2025 Budget for the City of Buenos Aires
Macri’s Urgent Pursuit to Secure Next Year’s Budget
BUENOS AIRES, December 31, 2024 – Jorge Macri, the chief of government of the City of Buenos Aires, is in a race against time to finalize the 2025 budget for the nation’s capital. With the year-end deadline fast approaching, Macri’s administration is engaged in intense negotiations to ensure that the budget is approved and enacted before time runs out.
Macri’s government faces significant challenges in drafting the 2025 budget. The city’s economic landscape has been profoundly impacted by the global economic downturn, compounded by domestic inflation and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current budget, implemented in 2024, has already had to undergo adjustments mid-year due to fiscal imbalances and revenue shortfalls.
"The 2025 budget is crucial for the City of Buenos Aires," said Macri during a recent press conference. "We must ensure that our spending aligns with our revenues, and that we prioritize investments in strategic sectors such as healthcare, education, and public infrastructure."
A key aspect of the negotiations is the dispute with the national government over funding for security and transportation. The City of Buenos Aires has been pressing for more autonomy and increased financial allocation from the national government to cover these areas, arguing that the city shoulders a disproportionate burden of their costs.
"We’re urging the national government to recognize the city’s contribution to the security and mobility of the entire country," said a senior official from Macri’s administration. "We need a fairer allocation of funds toaddress our specific needs."
Despite the complexities and pressures, Macri has expressed confidence that an agreement will be reached in time. "We’re working tirelessly with all stakeholders to finalize the budget," he assured. "The wellbeing of the residents of the City of Buenos Aires depends on our success, and we won’t let them down."
The situation is being closely watched by analysts and political observers, who see this budget negotiation as a pivotal moment for Macri’s administration. As the clock ticks down to the New Year, all eyes are on Buenos Aires, waiting to see if Macri can pull off a budget victory.
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