Drug tests proposed for officials: suspension and impeachment for those who test positive
The PRO national deputy, Gabriel Chumpitaz , proposed a bill so that all officials of the three branches of government undergo a mandatory drug test . The initiative seeks to reinforce transparency , ensure suitability in public office and avoid possible influences of drug trafficking in government management. Suspension and impeachment , the consequences.
? I presented in the National Congress: ANTI-DOPING LAW AND DRUG TEST FOR POLITICS AND JUSTICE
Mandatory toxicology tests for officials of the three branches of government, a firm step towards transparency and ethics in the State. pic.twitter.com/8dkzOfAmf9
This measure seeks to guarantee integrity and suitability in public office. With periodic and random tests, it is ensured that those who make the laws, govern or administer justice set an example in the fight against drug trafficking and addictions.
— Gabriel F. Chumpitaz (@gfchumpitaz) February 24, 2025
It is time to close the gap of double standards. With this project, a new era of responsibility for politics and justice is opening up. Let us build a State of integrity and commitment to the people.
— Gabriel F. Chumpitaz (@gfchumpitaz) February 24, 2025
The project establishes periodic and random toxicological tests, which will be carried out by certified laboratories. These controls will include members of the Executive , Congress and the Judiciary , as well as directors of autonomous organizations and state companies . However, lower-ranking public employees would be excluded. President Javier Milei reposted the news.
— Javier Milei (@JMileiElecto) February 24, 2025
Under the proposal, the first screening would be conducted upon taking office, with mandatory annual testing and random checks every three months on a representative sample of staff . Tests would be conducted for cocaine, marijuana, opiates, amphetamines and other substances not prescribed by a doctor.
If an official tests positive, he or she may request a retest within 48 hours. If the result is confirmed, he or she will be suspended without pay until his or her situation is defined. In the case of the Executive Branch , the final decision will be in the hands of the President. For deputies and senators , the Constitutional Affairs Committee may recommend their dismissal. In the Judicial Branch , the Council of the Judiciary will evaluate the removal or sanction process.
The bill also provides that an official who refuses the test will be considered positive, which would imply his suspension and possible dismissal. In addition, if a member of the State tests positive on more than one occasion, the removal process will be automatically activated.
The government of San Luis has already implemented a pilot test with mandatory toxicological tests for officials and employees of the three branches of government . Within the framework of the "Law of Exemplarity and Coherence", Governor Claudio Poggi was the first to undergo the drug test , assuring that the fight against drug trafficking requires "coherence and strength."
The first draw will be held on March 5 to select the first 100 provincial officials who will be tested. They will then receive the corresponding notification and the samples will be taken the following day.
Deputy Chumpitaz argued that this initiative of the narcotest seeks to reinforce confidence in institutions and prevent drug trafficking from influencing public decisions. He stressed that in provinces such as Santa Fe , where drug-related violence has increased, it is urgent to implement strict controls.
The bill has already been submitted to Congress and opens a new debate on the need to establish filters to ensure that those who hold positions of public responsibility are not linked to substance use. It remains to be seen whether the proposal achieves the necessary consensus to move forward with its legislative treatment.
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