Lower house debates lowering age of criminal responsibility and Mercosur-EU deal

The Argentine lower house is debating lowering the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 14 years old, a bill backed by the government and its allies. The session began on Thursday at 11 a.m. and the vote is expected to happen at around 9 p.m. After that, deputies will also address the Mercosur-European Union trade agreement in order to move forward with the ratification process, necessary for the agreement to enter into force in the country once it is approved by European authorities within the next two years. The debate of the two topics comes after a major legislative win for the government. In the early hours of Thursday, the senate passed president Javier Mileis labor reform. Congress is currently in an extraordinary sessions period before the regular sessions begin on March 1. Milei filed several key bills he was interested in Congress to pass before March, including one that aims to allow mining in currently protected areas surrounding glaciers. The new bill On Wednesday, deputies reached the required commissions-approved version of the age of criminal responsibility bill, which allowed them to take it to the chambers floor. Lawmakers could still introduce more changes to it during the debate. The bill aims to create a new Juvenile Criminal Regimen with the goal of punishing crimes committed by teens between 14 and 16, who are currently not criminally responsible for their actions. The government decided to push the topic forward during the past month, after a gruesome murder of 15-year-old committed by peers around the same age made headlines. The proposal is backed by ruling party La Libertad Avanza, as well as allies PRO, and the so-called friendly opposition blocs Unin Cvica Radical, Provincias Unidas and Innovacin Federal. Left-wing Frente de Izquierda and most of Peronist Unin por la Patria oppose the bill, although some members of the latter bloc support it and had even filed similar proposals in the past. The bill also includes implementing educational, recreational and sports activities for teens who commit crimes, as well as providing them with addiction treatment if necessary. Those found guilty would be handed prison sentences of up to 15 years with the chance of parole once they comply with two thirds of it. The debate on the Mercosur-EU deal is expected to last no longer than two hours, meaning the vote will happen at around 11 p.m. Lawmakers from all member countries of the Mercosur and the EU have to approve the agreement in order for it to enter into force. Its implementation was expected to happen around the end of 2026, but it was delayed after the European Parliament referred the deal to the EU court for an analysis on whether the agreement is compatible with existing treaties and agreements within the bloc.