Despite the parliamentary recess, significant meetings have taken place within some of the deputies’ blocs, potentially leading to an inter-bloc agreement between the PRO and the MID, led by Oscar Zago, former head of the La Libertad Avanza bloc. Both parties confirmed this to PERFIL, although the advanced negotiations are yet to be finalized.
Cristian Ritondo, head of the PRO bloc, admitted yesterday to having discussions with Zago but clarified that any decision would be made collectively by the bloc. “We are in conversations with Oscar Zago and the MID about joining forces and possibly acting together. This decision will be made by the entire bloc, not just by me personally,” Ritondo explained.
Ritondo and Zago have known each other since they shared a bench in the Buenos Aires Legislature from 2007 to 2013. At that time, Zago was part of the PRO bloc. He joined the MID in 2021 and became a key figure for Milei in the city. Both sides clarified that the idea was always about forming an inter-bloc, not merging.
This stance does not sit well with authoritarians.
Professional and critical journalism is a fundamental pillar of democracy, which is why it bothers those who believe they own the truth.
The PRO stands firm in Congress, pressuring the government to expedite 15 legislative projects. “I’ve known Oscar for a long time. He was a member of the PRO bloc when I was presiding over the Buenos Aires Legislature. We share many similar views. This possibility could strengthen us in Congress,” Ritondo noted.
Allied Stance Amid Internal PRO Dispute
The context of these meetings between Ritondo and Zago, head of the MID (a party with two other legislators), is that both agreed on an “allied” stance toward Javier Milei’s government, despite some differences. If this agreement materializes, they would collectively hold 40 seats, surpassing the 38 seats of the official party.
Additionally, the PRO is grappling with internal leadership and future direction between Patricia Bullrich and Mauricio Macri. Bullrich’s intention to unify with LLA could lead to a minor exodus of deputies, although fewer than those who follow the former president.
However, Zago began seeking this pre-agreement even before he was expelled from LLA for supporting the appointment of Marcela Pagano as chair of the Impeachment Commission, contrary to the will of the President of the Chamber of Deputies, MartÃn Menem, and especially the Secretary-General of the Presidency, Karina Milei.
Discontent Among Some LLA Deputies
Zago always believed that the official party needed to consolidate forces, but the libertarian leadership did not. Even after he ceased to be head of the LLA bloc, he proposed forming an inter-bloc with the MID, which was also rejected by MartÃn Menem and Karina Milei.
Now, while the goal remains to consolidate forces within an allied environment to the official party, this could create a larger conflict for the “pure” liberalism camp. Several deputies with whom Zago maintains relationships participated in agreements to join La Libertad Avanza but now express dissatisfaction with their conditions.
“There were no salary adjustments, so deputies earn much less than senators. Meetings are very exclusive, favoring those directly linked to Karina or MartÃn Menem. Moreover, some believe the challenging economic context necessitates alliances to govern, while this administration is heading in the opposite direction,” parliamentary sources told PERFIL.
If these issues are not addressed, more deputies might join the new inter-bloc with the PRO and MID, causing LLA to lose influence. A clear example is Marcela Pagano, who remains unrecognized by her own party as head of the Impeachment Commission and has minimal participation in the bloc’s meetings and decisions since the scandal. Additionally, Zago maintains close ties with about five other official deputies.
JD / Gi
