President Javier Milei of Argentina has recently faced violent clashes between protesters and riot police in Buenos Aires. The clashes erupted as the Senate narrowly approved Milei’s controversial economic reform package. The protesters believe that these measures will negatively impact millions of Argentines and expressed their discontent by throwing petrol bombs and stones, resulting in injuries and setting cars on fire.
Milei, a right-wing economist, was elected during a severe economic crisis and has been struggling to improve the country’s economy. His reforms include declaring a state of economic emergency, cutting pensions, and weakening labor rights. These measures have been met with opposition from leftist political parties, labor unions, and social organizations.
Despite the opposition, Vice-President Victoria Villarruel broke a tie in the Senate, allowing the bill to pass preliminarily. The bill will now undergo a thorough examination point by point before its anticipated final approval on Thursday. The clashes between protesters and police intensified as demonstrators attempted to make their way to Congress, resulting in injuries on both sides.
The divisive bill, which aims to revive Argentina’s economy, was approved by the lower house in April after significant modifications. Milei has been taking drastic measures to reduce public spending, including cutting the cabinet in half, eliminating public jobs, and suspending new public works contracts.
During the protests, at least 20 police officers were injured, and 15 people were arrested. The clashes have highlighted the deep divisions within Argentine society regarding Milei’s reforms. The President’s office praised the security forces for their response to what they described as “terrorists” attempting a coup d’état.
The protesters’ chants and banners reflected their concerns about the direction of the country under Milei’s leadership. The clashes outside Congress underscore the challenges that Milei faces in implementing his economic reforms and uniting a deeply divided nation. As Argentina grapples with high inflation and poverty rates, the future impact of Milei’s measures remains uncertain.
