Stories that caught our eye: December 12 to 19

Budget on the way

The 2026 Budget was given first reading in the Congress of Deputies by a 132-97 vote late Wednesday while in the Senate earlier in the day La Libertad Avanza caucus chief Patricia Bullrich landed the chair of the Labour and Social Welfare Committee and soon afterwards began debate on the Javier Milei administration’s labour reform, which she was already hoping to steer through committee stage by yesterday. While Peronist senator José Mayans questioned whether formation of the committee complied with procedural rules, Bullrich was under fire on another front from Kirchnerite lawyer Gregorio Dalbón, who denounced her and her son Francisco Langieri, owner of the Tostado café chain, for tax evasion, money-laundering and business irregularities, a case now going to federal judge Ariel Lijo.

Quantitative easing (local style)

The Central Bank announced last Monday that the adjustment of the currency bands would be index-linked as from the start of next year instead of the current fixed monthly rate of one percent. The index-linking will be based on the most recent monthly inflation figure available at the start of each month, which means that next year will kick off using the November inflation of 2.5 percent. Central Bank Governor Santiago Bausili further anticipated the beginning of a plan to accumulate reserves in response to International Monetary Fund (IMF) pressures, aiming to purchase US$10 billion next year. The innovations were positively received by both the markets and economists.

Cabinet overhaul

ARCA revenue and Customs agency has a new boss with DGI tax burea