How long does Congress take to approve the Budget? From De la Rúa to Milei




Over the past decades, the approval of the National Budget has taken between 27 and 106 calendar days, with a historical average of 70 days. In five years (2025, 2024, 2022, 2020, and 2011), the Budget was extended due to a lack of political agreement.

The length of the legislative process for the National Budget serves as a snapshot of the relationship between the Executive Branch and Congress, as well as of the political climate of each period. A historical review by Directorio Legislativo shows significant variations in approval times, reflecting scenarios ranging from swift agreements and solid majorities to prolonged extensions resulting from parliamentary tensions and disagreements.

In this context, during the extraordinary sessions, President Javier Milei’s administration is pushing for the approval of the 2026 Budget, which has already been 93 days in Congress since its introduction. During his administration, the 2025 and 2024 Budgets were not approved, and the government operated under extended budget allocations. The same situation occurred in 2022, 2020, and 2011, reflecting periods of strong political tension or the inability to build stable legislative majorities.

Under Alberto Fernández’s administration, the 2023 Budget took 62 calendar days from its introduction to its approval, a timeframe very similar to that of the 2021 Budget, which took 63 days. Although the 2020 Budget was extended from the 2019 Budget, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic the Executive Branch submitted an amending bill, which was approved by Congress.

During Mauricio Macri’s presidency, timelines varied. The 2016 Budget was the fastest of that period, taking 46 days, while the 2018 Budget extended to 104 days, becoming one of the longest debates of the past decades.

Under the administrations of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, timelines ranged from swift approvals, such as the 2014 Budget, which took 28 days, to more prolonged debates, such as the 2012 Budget, which took 99 days. During Néstor Kirchner’s presidency, approval times ranged between 70 and 98 days, with the 2005 Budget being the fastest and the 2006 Budget the longest.

During Eduardo Duhalde’s government, both historical extremes were recorded: in 2003, the Budget took 106 days, the longest period in the series; while in 2002, it was approved in just 27 days, the shortest.

In the case of Fernando de la Rúa, the 2001 Budget took 90 days from its introduction in Congress to its approval.

The longest and shortest approval processes

Among the longest cases:

  • 2003 Budget (Duhalde): 106 days
  • 2018 Budget (Macri): 104 days

At the other end of the spectrum, some budgets were approved in less than one month:

  • 2002 Budget (Duhalde): 27 days
  • 2014 Budget (Cristina Fernández de Kirchner): 28 days

The legislative process of the Budget

The Budget Bill is the exclusive initiative of the Executive Branch and always begins in the Chamber of Deputies, where the Chief of Cabinet presents it along with a macroeconomic report.

It then moves to the Budget and Finance Committee for detailed review, which may include hearings with government officials and technical input from the Congressional Budget Office (OPC). From there, a committee report is issued for debate on the floor, followed by consideration in the Senate and final enactment.

These steps explain why timelines vary—from 27 days in periods of smooth agreement to extended delays due to political deadlock.

We invite you to learn more about the Budget process at: https://presupuesto.directoriolegislativo.org/index.html

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