On 26 May 2026, the National Executive presented the Draft Law on Transparency and Disclosure of Interest Management to the Chamber of Deputies, promoting it as a tool to regulate lobbying and ensure transparency in interactions between private actors and public officials.
The official text states that it aims to ensure “openness, transparency, traceability and integrity” in interactions between public and private actors in government decision-making processes. The initiative establishes a Public Register of Lobbyists, requires prior registration for individuals and organisations seeking to influence decisions by officials in the national executive and legislative branches, and imposes obligations regarding data updates, quarterly reports and the recording of contacts. The Government maintains that the bill is inspired by international regulatory models and seeks to strengthen institutional integrity.
However, whilst lobbying regulation may be a legitimate tool for enhancing transparency, CSOs and experts in democratic participation warn that several aspects of the bill could have a restrictive effect on public policy advocacy. According to the analysis carried out by Red Encuentro, the initiative imposes registration requirements, reporting obligations and potential sanctions that could discourage the participation of civil society organisations in public policy-making processes. The definition of “management of interests” is broad and could encompass legitimate public participation activities carried out by social, academic, trade union, community, environmental, feminist and human rights organisations.
Among the main risks identified are the administrative burdens arising from mandatory registration, the obligation to report contacts and activities, the publication of potentially sensitive information, and the special rules applicable to those who represent, receive funding from, or are otherwise linked to foreign actors. These provisions could lead to heightened monitoring and surveillance, risks of stigmatisation, and disincentives for CSOs to participate in processes of formulation, monitoring and evaluation of public policies.
The bill has already been taken up in a plenary of the Constitutional Affairs and General Legislation Committees, whilst the Executive’s own message calls for its “prompt consideration and adoption”. This accelerated timeline reduces the opportunity for meaningful consultation and debate with the organisations potentially affected.
If adopted without substantial amendments, the initiative could introduce new bureaucratic barriers to public participation, restrict civil society’s access to decision-makers, and have a lasting negative impact on the enabling environment for civil society in Argentina.