Senator calls 'old politics' move to disqualify colleague from property law debate

An attempt by Senator Juliana Di Tullio to disqualify her Libertarian colleague Joaquín Benegas Lynch from a debate on private property law has ignited a political clash, with Benegas Lynch labeling the move a tactic of "old politics."

Di Tullio sought to bar Benegas Lynch from the discussion due to his ownership of a company involved in selling land, specifically foreign-owned land. However, this particular section of the bill concerning land sales to foreigners had already been withdrawn by the government to avoid legislative setbacks, rendering Di Tullio's challenge moot.

Benegas Lynch responded sharply, suggesting Di Tullio's action was predictable and characteristic of outdated political maneuvering. He asserted that while he entered politics knowing it involved "mud" and would toughen him, he was prepared to confront those he believes have harmed Argentina. He also questioned the logic of disqualifying legislators based on their professional backgrounds, using examples like excluding business owners or those with employees from votes on labor modernization.

He cited Article 55 of the National Constitution, which requires senators to have an annual income, arguing that the original framers in 1853 intended to prevent senators from living solely on their legislative stipends. Benegas Lynch also ironically pointed out that many politicians have been in their positions for decades, funded by taxpayers, and suggested that their independence, now questioned, was precisely what the Constitution demanded. He further implied that opponents, possibly from the Kirchnerist bloc, were hypocritical in their criticisms, given their own potential conflicts of interest.