Thousands of protesters clashed with police outside Argentina’s Senate on Thursday as lawmakers debated a controversial bill seeking to expand private property rights, accelerate tenant evictions and further restrict the state’s power to expropriate land.
Despite stormy weather and a heavy security presence around Congress, demonstrators mobilised by trade unions and left-wing groups gathered at Congress Square carrying Argentine flags and banners bearing the inscription, “The homeland is not for sale.”
Violence broke out as the protest drew to a close, with some demonstrators throwing stones and other objects at police officers. Security forces responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and a water cannon.
The proposed legislation, known as the “Inviolability of Private Property” bill, is being promoted by the government of libertarian President Javier Milei as a means of strengthening property rights and providing a legal framework capable of attracting investment.
Opposition parties, environmental organisations and civil society groups have strongly opposed the proposal, warning that it could threaten Argentina’s sovereignty and expose strategic land and natural resources to exploitation.
Critics described the original proposal as creating a risk of “colonisation, fragmentation, fracture and balkanisation of the homeland.”
One of the most controversial provisions would have relaxed restrictions on the acquisition of rural land by foreigners and foreign-owned entities.
Argentina’s existing Land Law limits foreign ownership to 15 per cent of rural land at the national, provincial and municipal levels.
Milei’s ruling La Libertad Avanza party initially sought to remove the restriction entirely before amending the proposal to increase the limit from 15 per cent to 25 per cent.
However, the government was forced to withdraw the chapter after failing to secure sufficient support in the 72-member Senate, where the ruling party controls only 20 seats.
The concession did little to calm opposition to the wider bill, as protesters remained concerned about its provisions on wildfire-damaged land, tenant evictions and government expropriation.
Nearly five per cent of Argentina’s territory, an area roughly the size of England, is already under foreign ownership, according to a 2025 report by researchers from the University of Buenos Aires and other institutions.
The researchers found that foreign ownership had already exceeded the existing 15 per cent limit in some districts, particularly in areas containing water and mineral resources or strategic logistical facilities such as ports.
President Milei had previously attempted to remove restrictions on foreign ownership of rural land through a decree issued shortly after he assumed office in late 2023.
A federal court later struck down the measure, ruling that it endangered Argentina’s sovereignty.
Although the foreign-land ownership provision has now been removed, the Senate is considering several other contentious changes contained in the remaining bill.
One provision would amend wildfire management regulations to make it easier to change the use of land affected by fires.
Current legislation prohibits the sale, subdivision or alteration of the use of burned native forests, planted forests, protected areas and wetlands for 60 years.
It also prevents changes to the use of burned agricultural land for 30 years.
Those protections were introduced in 2020 to discourage the deliberate burning of forests and wetlands for agricultural production, livestock farming and property development.
Under the proposed reform, several of those restrictions would be repealed. Although the bill retains some safeguards for native forests, it does not clearly state how long those protections would remain in force.
The legislation also proposes the introduction of “express evictions” for tenants who fail to pay rent.
Under the current system, court-ordered evictions can take several months or even years. The proposed procedure would give a tenant 10 days to settle outstanding rent after missing a payment, after which the landlord could seek eviction through an expedited court process.
Another major provision would place tighter restrictions on the power of national, provincial and municipal authorities to expropriate private property.
Governments seeking to take possession of land would be required to satisfy stricter legal tests showing that the expropriation was suitable, necessary, proportionate and genuinely in the public interest.
The bill would also increase the compensation payable to property owners and prevent the government from taking possession of expropriated property until the full compensation, including payment for lost profits, had been made.
The ruling party had previously postponed consideration of the bill in June and July because it lacked the necessary votes, and opposition from allied political blocs and provincial governors continued ahead of Thursday’s debate.
Several prominent Argentine entertainers and footballers also publicly opposed the proposed changes to foreign land ownership, adding to the pressure that forced the government to withdraw that part of the bill.
The Senate debate proceeded under heavy security as Milei’s administration sought to advance the remaining reforms despite widespread opposition from political groups, environmental campaigners, unions and protesters outside Congress.
The post “The Homeland Is Not For Sale” — Protesters Clash With Police As Argentine Senate Debates Controversial Property Bill appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.