Milei Government Suffers 16 Legislative Defeats Since April 2025, Political Analyst Highlights

BUENOS AIRES – The government of Argentine President Javier Milei has experienced a sharp decline in legislative success since April 2025, losing 16 out of 17 legislative votes, according to a recent analysis by prominent political scientist Andrés Malamud. This stark contrast follows a period of significant legislative wins, where the administration secured 15 out of 17 votes until March 2025.

Malamud, a senior research fellow at the University of Lisbon, highlighted this dramatic shift on social media, stating: > "Desde que asumió, el gobierno enfrentó 34 votaciones legislativas: Hubo 17 hasta marzo 2025: ganó 15. Hubo 17 desde abril 2025: perdió 16. La composición del congreso no cambió, el daño es todo autoinfligido."

The initial period of legislative effectiveness for the Milei administration, which took office in December 2023, was marked by the successful advancement of key reforms aimed at fiscal adjustment and state restructuring. This early momentum allowed the libertarian government to push through several initiatives despite holding a minority in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

However, the political landscape shifted notably from April 2025. Recent legislative setbacks include the Senate's rejection of President Milei’s Supreme Court nominees in April, who had been appointed by decree, and the August 2025 approval of budget increases for public universities by the Senate, which went against the government's austerity measures. Additionally, opposition representatives successfully overruled a presidential veto on increased subsidies for the disabled in August.

Crucially, Malamud emphasizes that the composition of the Argentine Congress remained unchanged during this period of declining legislative wins. This suggests that the setbacks are not due to a shift in the balance of power within the legislature but rather stem from the government's own strategic approach and its relationship with other political actors.

President Milei has frequently resorted to Necessity and Urgency Decrees (DNUs) to bypass congressional approval for his reforms, a tactic that has drawn criticism for executive overreach and concerns about "delegative democracy." Milei has publicly expressed frustration with legislative opposition, stating in August 2025 that his administration faces "a Congress hijacked by Kirchnerism (Peronism), a Congress that only responds to its own interests," and that they "reminded us that they have only one legislative agenda, which is to bankrupt the national state."

The upcoming midterm legislative elections in October 2025 will be a critical test for the Milei government. The outcome could potentially alter the congressional balance, but the recent analysis points to internal dynamics and governmental strategy as the primary drivers behind the current legislative challenges.