Pope Francis’ death has placed the Argentine political cycle on hold as Congress sessions, campaign events, and political rallies have all been canceled or postponed in the wake of the country’s collective mourning.

President Javier Milei declared seven days of national mourning following the death. This means that all official activity has been canceled and flags must fly at half-mast at public buildings. The president also cleared out his agenda for the week and is scheduled to travel to the Vatican on Thursday night to attend the funeral.

Congress adhered to the seven-day national mourning and suspended normal activities to carry out special sessions to honor Pope Francis. The Lower House did so on Tuesday, while the Senate will hold the session on Thursday.

Campaign events all across the country in anticipation of the upcoming midterm elections have also been canceled. This included a city walk Milei and presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni were set to take in Buenos Aires City ahead of the local elections, in which Adorni is running.

Ruling party La Libertad Avanza (LLA) also suspended a party event in La Plata on Tuesday. This would have been the president’s first time leading a political rally in Buenos Aires province, ahead of the July 13 legislative elections in the district. The midterms are set to be a major test for LLA, as it will be its first electoral challenge vote since the 2023 presidential  election.

Milei will depart to Rome on Thursday at 10 p.m. with a small mission, including Adorni, Presidency Secretary Karina Milei, Chief of Staff Guillermo Francos, and ministers Sandra Pettovello (Human Capital), Patricia Bullrich (security) and Gerardo Werthein (foreign relations). Worship and Civilization Secretary Nahuel Sotelo already traveled on Tuesday and will welcome them there.

The mission is expected to return to Argentina on Sunday morning, according to Herald sister publication Ámbito. With less than a month until the BA city local elections, Milei could then resume his campaign activities by carrying out the walk with Adorni on Tuesday, the publication added.

The upcoming schedule for Congress

A Tuesday Lower House session in which Chief of Staff Guillermo Francos was scheduled to answer questions as part of an ongoing legislative investigation into the $LIBRA cryptocurrency scandal was postponed for April 29. Francos Ministers Luis Caputo (Economy) and Mariano Cúneo Libarona (Justice), as well as the Argentine market regulation office (CNV) head Roberto Silva are also expected to attend.

A Senate session to debate a new law the opposition argues is aimed at banning former President Cristina Kirchner from running for office will be resumed on May 7. The anti-graft bill known as Ficha Limpia — originally expected to be debated on Thursday — seeks to modify to block individuals with two final convictions for corruption from running.

Kirchner, head of the Peronist Partido Justicialista, also decided to postpone a party event scheduled for Friday. The decision was made to “honor the memory of dear Pope Francis,” the party said in a statement. The new date will be announced after the funeral.

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