The Argentine Senate is debating a controversial private property rights reform bill on Thursday afternoon, as protesters gather outside Congress amid a heavy security operation.
The bill proposes changes to existing legislation that would expand the rights and powers of owners of property and land.
The bill’s most controversial provision, which would have lifted restrictions on foreign ownership of rural land, was removed after the ruling party, La Libertad Avanza (LLA), failed to secure enough support amid widespread backlash.
However, senators will still debate changes affecting protections of native forests and land burned in wildfires, as well as measures to speed up tenant evictions and further restrict state expropriations.
LLA had already postponed a debate on the bill in June and July because it lacked the votes needed for passage, a problem that appears to persist ahead of Thursday’s session.
