MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Countdown for the Argentine Executive super powers

Mrs. Kirchner announced she will be sending a bill to Congress limiting discretional us of federal funds

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner announced this week a bill that will limit the amount of funds discretionally disbursed by the Executive under the so-called “superpowers”.

“It's time to end this debate” said Mrs. Kirchner on making the announcement. The president currently has full discretion to assign the use of those funds, a power which was given to the executive by Congress previously.

The proposed bill to be sent to Congress will limit the amount of federal spending distributed by the president to just 5% of the funds assigned to the full range of government entities. This “will leave the immense responsibility for assigning funds to the legislature” indicated Mrs. Kirchner.

The Argentine president has come under heavy pressure over the extraordinary executive powers since the election setback on June 28 which saw her husband and former president Front for Victory party lose control of both houses of Congress.

The shift comes ahead of congressional debate to revoke spending and tax powers that it passed to the presidency in a series of bills dating back to the 1990s and earlier this decade. Now, the newly invigorated opposition is pushing for a quick vote to revoke special presidential powers which were used among other things to impose controversial export taxes, customs duties and to collect political support for the Kirchner couple through financing of provincial and city public works.

Even though the new congressional lawmakers won't take their seats until December, shifting alliances in the current House and Senate have provided an opportunity for opposition legislators to press for reform.

The first test will likely come next month over the issue of the special executive powers, which expire August 24, and if they aren't renewed, Congress will take back its role of setting customs policy and taxes.