Overview
- The Legislature of La Rioja approved the law on Friday, June 19, 2026, empowering Governor Ricardo Quintela and the State Prosecutor to start administrative, political and judicial actions to reclaim disputed territory.
- The law instructs the Fiscalía de Estado to file for measures cautelares that could immediately halt mining work or close access routes until courts decide on the merits.
- San Juan Governor Marcelo Orrego rejected the provincial move as invalid and said his administration has convened local political forces to mount a legal defence based on National Law No. 18.004 and the Constitution.
- The contested area includes high‑altitude copper and gold projects tied to Vicuña/Josemaría and Gualcamayo plus tourist assets near Parque Provincial Ischigualasto, making control of the zone economically significant for both provinces.
- If the dispute is not settled politically in Congress, the fight is likely to move through precautionary court orders and ultimately to the Supreme Court, a process that could disrupt local communities, jobs and access to public lands.