The Lower House of Congress has voted in favour of a bill which reforms the Electoral Code to allow the designation of 43 legislators in the Mercosur parliament for Argentina, which could take place at the same time as the presidential polls in October 2015.
The government-backed initiative secured 140 positive votes, with 72 opposition lawmakers rejecting elections for the regional parliament. Renewal Front legislators, meanwhile, formed the bulk of 18 abstentions as the Victory Front and its allies carried the vote.
Having received approval from the Lower House, the amendments to the Electoral Code will now be discussed in the Senate before passing into law.
Lawmakers are carrying out the final session of 2014 with a packed schedule, which aside from the election of Parlasur members includes the new telecommunications law Digital Argentina and the fast-tracking of the new Civil Code, amongst other bills.
Martín Insaurralde also made formal his resignation from the Lower House in order to resume duties as mayor of Lomas de Zamora, before replacement Luis Cigogna was sworn in.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald