Martín Llaryora Supported the Suspension of the Paso and Proposed Their Definitive Elimination

The governor of Córdoba, Martín Llaryora, expressed his support for the suspension of the Primary, Open, Simultaneous, and Mandatory (PASO) elections in 2025, after the Senate turned the bill that nullified these elections for next year into law. Additionally, the Córdoba leader advocated for their permanent elimination in the future.

"Their cost is irrational"

Through his account on the social network X, Llaryora expressed his support for the Congress's decision:  "From Córdoba, we support the Senate's decision to turn the suspension of the #PASO in Argentina into law."

In that line, he considered that "this electoral instance has lost its reason for being and, in the future, should be eliminated."  According to the governor, the primary system has become obsolete and no longer fulfills its original purpose. "Their cost is irrational and their original purpose has been distorted over time," Llaryora concluded.

Alejandra Vigo: "It's time to make a more efficient system"

Meanwhile, the senator for Córdoba, Alejandra Vigo, also expressed her support for the suspension of the PASO and opened the debate on a possible electoral reform. "Suspending the PASO is the starting point to thoroughly debate our electoral system," she stated in a message on X.

Vigo questioned the usefulness of the primaries and argued that "the PASO solve political problems, not those of the citizens". In her opinion, with their elimination "political parties, as provided in the law that regulates them, will be able to define their organization without forcing people to participate in unrelated primaries."

Finally, the legislator highlighted the need to modernize the electoral system and prioritize the popular will: "It's time to make a more efficient, transparent, and representative system. Listening to the citizens must be the priority."

An open debate on the electoral system

The support of Llaryora and Vigo for the suspension of the PASO is part of a broader debate on the Argentine electoral system.  While some political sectors defend the need to maintain them as a tool for internal candidate selection, others consider that their high cost and lack of usefulness for the citizens justify their elimination.

With the law enacted, in 2025 there will be no primaries and political parties will have to define their candidates through other internal mechanisms. The future of the PASO, however, remains a topic of discussion that could lead to a deeper electoral reform.