Argentina Plans to Abolish Primary Elections to Save $150 Million
The Argentine government has reaffirmed its intention to abolish the “Simultaneous, Mandatory, and Open Primaries” (PASO) in the 2025 electoral calendar, aiming to save over $150 million.
Guillermo Francos, Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers, revealed this figure on Monday and urged political forces to reach an agreement on the matter during the upcoming sessions of Congress. PASO, implemented in 2011, was designed to reduce excessive candidacies by allowing political parties to select candidates through a vote among party members. The winner represents the party in the official election.
Francos defended the government’s position to simplify the electoral system, pointing out that maintaining PASO would cost an estimated $500 million for the upcoming legislative elections. “Abolishing PASO could save between 35% and 40% of that amount, or over $150 million,” he stated on social media.
He also criticized PASO as a financial burden on the state’s budget and an inconvenience for citizens, who had to vote in primaries to resolve internal party issues. Francos concluded that eliminating this step would save time, reduce hassle, and cut costs for Argentinians.
