Argentina Senate Narrowly Reappoints Judge Who Backed Labor Reform

The Argentine Senate narrowly approved a judicial nominations package, notably extending the tenure of Víctor Pesino, a Labor Appeals Court judge who upheld the government's controversial labor reform. Pesino, who turns 75 on July 27 and would normally retire, secured a new five-year term, allowing him to continue until age 80.

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Just the day after he issued the ruling (upholding the labor reform), the Executive Branch presented the proposal for him to continue for five more years.

The nomination sparked fierce debate, with Kirchnerist senators vehemently opposing it. Senator Mariano Recalde criticized the executive branch for proposing Pesino's extension the day after his ruling on the labor reform. He alleged that while lacking direct proof, there were "serious and concordant indications" that Pesino's decisions were driven by personal convenience rather than justice. Recalde further characterized the court Pesino belongs to, the Sala VIII of the Labor Appeals Chamber, as the "Sala Banelco," referencing a past judicial scandal.

Patricia Bullrich, head of the ruling bloc, defended Pesino, accusing the opposition of attacking judges based on their verdicts. She asserted that the current administration seeks a justice system that remains neutral to different governments. Bullrich argued that judicializing congressional decisions, as the opposition did with the labor reform law, should not lead to a judge's removal based on their rulings.

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We don't have proof, but there are serious and concordant indications that this judge (Pesino) does not act according to justice but according to his own convenience and needs.

In the same session, the government also advanced the nominations of Pablo Yadarola and Pablo Bertuzzi for key positions in the Federal Appeals Court. Juan Tomás Rodríguez Ponte was also approved without opposition to lead the federal court in Lomas de Zamora, which is handling a case involving Martín Insaurralde and Jesica Cirio.

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They judicialized decisions of Congress (regarding the Labor Reform law), and this judge decided it was not judiciable, and they want to find a shortcut by removing someone for their rulings, and judges are not removed for their rulings.