A man in a dark jacket is voting at a ballot box while holding a mobile phone. — Javier Milei, Argentine President | La Derecha Diario

Camara — Javier Milei, Argentine President | La Derecha Diario

Javier Milei called the date for the general legislative elections.

Meanwhile, he arranged a deployment of armed and security forces to ensure the transparency of the process

20/05/2025 21:31:00h

Editorial Team

In a new display of political and institutional leadership, President Javier Mileisigned Decree 335/2025 this Monday, through which he calls for national legislative general elections on Sunday, October 26. The measure, published in the Official Gazette, is ahead of the deadline set by the Electoral Code —July 18— and seeks to consolidate the favorable political climate following the recent victory of La Libertad Avanza in Buenos Aires City.

The call includes the renewal of 127 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 24 in the Senate, corresponding to eight districts: Chaco, Entre Ríos, Neuquén, Río Negro, Salta, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego, and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. In the case of Mendoza, five national deputy seats will be at stake, which is half of its representation in the Lower House.

EXECUTIVE POWER Decree 335/2025 DECTO-2025-335-APN-PTE - Call. Buenos Aires City, 05/19/2025 CONSIDERING the File No. EX-2025-34275393-APN-DGDYL#MI, the NATIONAL ELECTORAL CODE approved by Law No. 19,945 (text ordered by Decree No. 2135 of August 18, 1983) and its amendments and Laws Nos. 26,571 and its amendments and 27,783, and CONSIDERING: That Article 53 of the NATIONAL ELECTORAL CODE establishes that the election of national positions will take place on the fourth Sunday of October immediately prior to the end of the mandates. That through Law No. 27,783, the suspension during the year 2025 of the Primary, Open, Simultaneous, and Mandatory Elections (PASO) contained in Title II of the Law on the Democratization of Political Representation, Transparency, and Electoral Equity No. 26,571 and its amendments was ordered. That this year the mandates of ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN (127) members of the HONORABLE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES OF THE NATION end. That, likewise, the mandates of TWENTY-FOUR (24) members of the HONORABLE CHAMBER OF SENATORS OF THE NATION, corresponding to the Provinces of CHACO, ENTRE RÍOS, NEUQUÉN, RÍO NEGRO, SALTA, SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, and TIERRA DEL FUEGO, ANTARCTICA AND SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLANDS, and the AUTONOMOUS CITY OF BUENOS AIRES, also end. That in view of the above, it is necessary to establish which electoral system will be applicable to the elections to be held. That the NATIONAL ELECTORAL DIRECTORATE of the UNDERSECRETARIAT OF POLITICAL AFFAIRS of the DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE INTERIOR of the CHIEF OF STAFF OF MINISTERS and the permanent legal advisory service of said Jurisdiction have taken the intervention that corresponds to them. That this measure is issued in use of the powers conferred by Articles 99, paragraph 1, of the NATIONAL CONSTITUTION and 53 of the NATIONAL ELECTORAL CODE, approved by Law No. 19,945 (t.o. by Decree No. 2135/83) and its amendments. Therefore, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARGENTINE NATION DECREES: ARTICLE 1.- The electorate of the ARGENTINE NATION is called to proceed on October 26, 2025, to elect NATIONAL SENATORS and NATIONAL DEPUTIES as corresponds to each district, according to the detail that, as ANNEX (IF-2025-48360223-APN-SSAPO#JGM), forms an integral part of this act. ARTICLE 2.- The elections of NATIONAL SENATORS and NATIONAL DEPUTIES will be held in accordance with the provisions of Title VII, Chapters II and III of the NATIONAL ELECTORAL CODE, approved by Law No. 19,945 (t.o. by Decree No. 2135/83) and its amendments. ARTICLE 3.- The DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE INTERIOR of the CHIEF OF STAFF OF MINISTERS, through the NATIONAL ELECTORAL DIRECTORATE, will adopt the necessary measures for the organization and holding of the elections subject to this call.

Decree in the Official Gazette | La Derecha Diario

Simultaneously, through Decree 336/2025, also signed by Chief of Staff Guillermo Francos, the creation of the General Electoral Command was ordered, which will be responsible for ensuring security during the elections. This temporary body, made up of national and provincial armed and security forces, will be in charge of guarding the polling places, safeguarding electoral materials, monitoring data processing centers, and transporting the ballot boxes.

The operation will begin to deploy 55 days before the election, in line with the judicial approval of the Single Paper Ballot, according to the Agreement 26/2025 of the National Electoral Chamber. Personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie, Coast Guard, Federal Police, Airport Security Police, and provincial forces will participate. All will be under the command of a General Electoral Commander, appointed by the Ministry of Defense, with active presence from 8:00 a.m. the day before the election until the completion of the count and withdrawal of materials.

A group of people smiles and celebrates on a stage while being photographed by the audience.

Manuel Adorni, winning candidate of La Libertad Avanza | La Derecha Diario

Additionally, the Command will have the authority to order contracts, payments, and logistical arrangements, limited to fulfilling its specific functions. The National Electoral Directorate will coordinate administrative tasks, while federal courts with electoral jurisdiction and national electoral boards will receive ongoing reports on the progress of the operation.

The Mendoza Case

The presidential decision reignited the debate in Mendoza, where radical governor Alfredo Cornejo still hasn't decided whether to unify the provincial calendar with the national one. Although the current legal framework in the province provides, by default, for split elections, the possibility of suspending local PASO and going to the polls along with the Nation is gaining ground.

"The deadline to decide extends until July 18, that is, 100 days before the national election," indicated sources from Mendoza's radicalism. During that period, a potential negotiation of lists between Cornejo and La Libertad Avanza must also be solved, which could lead to a high-impact political reorganization in the province.

If the split is maintained, provincial elections would be held in February and April 2026, with primaries (PASO) in the first round. However, the exceptional suspension of PASO at the national level —ordered by Law 27.783— already marks an essential difference that accentuates the contrast between the national government, which seeks electoral efficiency, and opposition sectors clinging to old political practices.

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