The Senate seeks to reach consensus on the creation of a registry of delinquent alimony debtors

The Pampean lawmaker and vice-chair of the General Legislation Committee, Pablo Bensusán (Senate Press) Amid uncertainty over whether there will be a session this week, a committee plenary will attempt to issue a report the day after tomorrow on the creation of a national registry of delinquent child support debtors, a matter previously debated in Congress that, nevertheless, was left half-finished. Days ago, the General Legislation and Population Committees reviewed two bills: one by Peronist Pablo Bensusán (La Pampa) and one by the radical-aligned Edith Terenzi (Chubut). The libertarian ruling party, led by Patricia Bullrich (Federal Capital), demanded changes and hinted at initial support for the Patagonian's bill, though the main blocs then decided to recess until this Wednesday, when a definition will be sought. According to the shorthand transcript of the recent meeting, the Justicialist lawmaker stated: "Some provinces enter child support debtors into the registry when they owe more than two installments; others, more than three; others, more than five. That will be maintained: the authority of each province. The registry will only do one thing: incorporate the information the provinces send it without modifying the requirements, in general, that the jurisdictions have." Following that, the Pampean added: "No new agency is being created. The idea is for this to function within the Ministry of Justice of the Nation. Obviously, it will be a program, a database that will be formed, as I just said, with the information sent by all the provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, should each of them adhere." The radical-aligned Edith Terenzi Bensusán later emphasized: "The project provides for sanctions at the national level — that is, through national agencies, without affecting provincial powers — such that, for example, if they need to obtain a passport, the national certificate of no debt from the registry would be required; for example, in the granting of concessions, permits, and other things granted by the National Government." And he added that "it is also provided for" the "prohibition of attending public spectacles." For her part, Terenzi clarified: "A fundamental difference with what Senator Bensusán was saying — which I am sure at some point we will be able to unify and move toward a consensus — is that I propose that this law be one of public order, precisely so as not to allow the possibility of provinces adhering or not, because if some do and others don't, we would have an inefficient national registry or, at least, an incomplete one." The Chubut native also said her idea is "to centralize it and not invade provincial jurisdictions" and that, for that reason, her text "also has no prohibitions nor establishes consequences for appearing in the National Registry of Delinquent Debtors, because, in reality, the delinquent debtor already faces the consequences in their own jurisdiction." Bullrich (Federal Capital) pointed out the lack of "international matters, the possibility of adhering to one of the color-coded alerts that exist in Interpol, because in many cases these individuals, if there is no criminal process, cannot be extradited for such a cause, but can be found in other countries around the world." The libertarian leader in the Senate, Patricia Bullrich (Infobae en Vivo) The Buenos Aires native suggested "analyzing which activities can be carried out and which cannot." In that regard, she highlighted: "Today there already exists a national registry of child support debtors, whose registrants are among the people who cannot attend sporting events. Various provinces are adhering to that registry. It operates in the Ministry of Security of the Nation, in the Directorate of Spectacles, and it covers not only sporting events but also other types of events. That is to say, precedents already exist regarding this." "I believe there must be a precise delimitation regarding leaving the country. That has to be clearly established with a judicial order, since no immigration authority can stop a citizen at the border if there is no judicial order. That has to be made clear," Bullrich concluded. The plenary in question appears as one of the activities on an, for now, lightly loaded agenda in the upper chamber. The main expectation rests on whether the full body will go to the floor on Thursday to, among other things, ratify the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), which Argentina signed in the last century and which the Senate approved in 1998. The Chamber of Deputies only voted on it in August and modified it, with a nod to local laboratories. For that reason, the process is in second review and ready to be finalized. The ruling party also seeks to approve a new mental health law — already reported out of committee — though dialogue-oriented lawmakers are fighting for more resources and there are doubts. All of this, amid a tense climate between libertarians and allies over unfulfilled promises from the Casa Rosada. It will be up to Bullrich and the dialogue-oriented leaders. If an agreement is reached, there would be a Labor Parliamentary meeting to close out a potential agenda.