Buenos Aires appeals court order halting evictions, vows to continue policy

Buenos Aires' city government is challenging a judicial order that halted its eviction operations, signaling a continued commitment to its "law and order" policy. The administration, led by Jorge Macri, has appealed the preliminary injunction, asserting its right to recover occupied properties.

The legal battle began after Judge Roberto Gallardo issued a collective injunction suspending "material or administrative measures of evacuation, material closure, boarding up, vacating, restricting access, or preventing re-entry" concerning residential properties. This decision followed an individual lawsuit concerning a property in Montes de Oca, which was expanded by city legislators who argued for the illegitimacy of the evictions.

Jorge Macri criticized the judge and a specific legislator, accusing them of defending "squatters" and attacking private property. He vowed to press on with his policy, stating, "If they speculate that with this absurd ruling they will stop the property recovery policy, I inform them that they understood nothing and are watching another movie." The city's General Prosecutor's Office has filed for an absolute nullity of the ruling, seeking its urgent lifting.

The city administration contends that Gallardo's decision is "arbitrary and violates constitutional principles and public order," arguing it contradicts the principle of private property by paralyzing operations to return properties to their rightful owners. Since December 2023, the city government claims to have recovered 840 properties.