Argentina Senate rejects Milei nominees to top court

Argentina's Senate rejected two Supreme Court justice nominees proposed by President Javier Milei, in a setback for the libertarian leader, who accused lawmakers of politicizing the vote.

The president's February decree to appoint current federal judge Ariel Lijo and academic Manuel Garcia-Mansilla had been questioned by jurists, political opponents, rights groups and a broad spectrum of Argentine politics, over procedural concerns and questions about the nominees' qualifications.

"You cannot appoint judges by decree ... We will not accept that in any way," opposition Senator Jose Mayans said.

The Senate, which has the power to oppose the appointment of judges by decree, rejected Garcia-Mansilla's appointment by a vote of 51 to 20 and that of Lijo by 43 votes against 27 (and one abstention). Some conservative lawmakers joined the opposition to vote down the nominations.

In a statement after the vote, Milei's office condemned the vote and accused the Senate of only working "to obstruct the future of the Argentine nation."

"It is evident that the politicization of judiciary represents a threat to democracy," the president's office.