Argentina's Milei seeks omnibus bill backing as opposition warns 'chainsaw' starting

Argentina's lawmakers debate on Argentina's President Javier Milei's economic reform bill, known as the "omnibus bill," at the National Congress, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, January 31, 2024. REUTERS/Agustin Marcarian

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The government of Argentine libertarian President Javier Milei was racing to secure votes in Congress for its key 'omnibus' reform bill that entered the lower of chamber on Wednesday, even as the left-leaning opposition pledged to oppose it.

The bill, ranging from economic policy to privatization of state entities, is one the main planks in Milei's reform push to tackle the South American country's worst economic crisis in decades, with inflation over 200% and state coffers running dry.