Following a 10-hour public hearing held in the Argentine Senate chamber on Wednesday, the Agreements Committee voted for the appointment of Daniel Reposo as attorney general. For Reposo to secure the appointment, he must now win the vote of two-thirds of the full Senate. Reposo was nominated by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s Frente para la Victoria party, but his nomination has become controversial after it was found that he misinterpreted his qualifications.
Ernesto Sanz, a senator from the Partido Radical led the opposition in questioning Reposo. Sanz argued that inaccurate information on Reposo’s resume and his connections with Vice President Amado Boudou should disqualify him for the attorney general position. But Frente para la Victoria Senate Leader Miguel Angel Pichetto defended Reposo, saying that he has all the qualifications necessary for the position, “a law degree, eight years of practice and he is more than 30 years old.”
The likely tally for the full Senate vote is at a stand-still: 42 senators in favor and 22 against. Eight legislators have yet to choose a clear position. If Reposo becomes the attorney general—a position currently vacant—he would decide the cases that go to each judge. It is expected that the ruling party will round up enough votes to pass his appointment.
