Argentina's Senate has approved a key state overhaul and tax packages proposed by President Javier Milei in an overall vote on Thursday.
The senators reached a dramatic tie, but Vice President Victoria Villarruel broke it, bringing the vote to 37-36 in favor of the state overhaul bill after some 11 hours of debate. The vote was overshadowed by protests in the country's capital, as protesters asked senators to reject the bill which delegates a wide set of legislative powers to the president in energy, pensions, security and other areas. Riot police were reported by AFP as having fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters gathered outside Congress, injuring five lawmakers taking part in the demonstrations.
The lawmakers still have to approve each of the bill's 238 articles in a piece-by-piece vote that will last throughout the night after which the legislation will return to the lower chamber for final approval.
