The Argentine Senate rejected a draft reform that would have removed limits on the sale of national land to foreign investors this week [1].
The defeat marks a significant legislative setback for President Javier Milei’s administration, as the proposal sought to open the country's territory to unlimited foreign ownership. Opponents of the measure argued that such a shift would compromise national sovereignty and leave critical rural assets vulnerable to external control.
Lawmakers and the public raised alarms that the reform could allow an excessive amount of territory to change hands. Senator Carlos Corpacci said the reform of the land law would allow the sale of "a quarter of a province" to foreign capital [3]. This represents approximately 25% of the land in a given province [3].
Due to a lack of sufficient votes in the Senate, the government withdrew the specific chapter allowing these sales [1, 2]. The move followed significant social rejection and warnings from legislators that the plan was too aggressive for the current political climate [4].
Senator Arce said the Senate rejected returning the Private Property Inviolability Law project to committee [2]. This legislative block prevents the Milei government from reviving the specific land-sale provisions through the same channel in the immediate term.
The government's attempt to liberalize land ownership was framed as a way to attract investment, but the Senate's resistance highlights a deep divide over the protection of natural resources. The rejection occurred between Aug. 5 and Aug. 6 [1].
“The reform of the land law would allow the sale of 'a quarter of a province' to foreign capital.”
This legislative defeat illustrates the limits of President Milei's ability to implement radical deregulation without a stronger parliamentary majority. By blocking the sale of up to 25% of provincial lands to foreign entities, the Senate has reaffirmed a nationalist approach to territorial sovereignty that outweighs the administration's goal of attracting foreign direct investment through land liberalization.
