Tensions increased ahead of a legislators’ vote on President Javier Milei’s planned tax legislation and state makeover. Protestors flung rocks, sticks, and Molotov cocktails at the National Congress building in Buenos Aires. Argentina’s riot police responded by scattering the demonstrators with tear gas and water cannons.
As the Senate began debating, thousands of protestors gathered in downtown Buenos Aires.
After 11 hours of contentious discussion, the Senate adopted the new amendments as demonstrators outside of Congress fought with the police to force MPs to reject Milei’s strict austerity measures.
A column of police armed with shields and batons jostled and surged against the people, swiftly changing the mood that had surrounded Congress earlier in the day. Protesters throwing burning bottles and other items were forced back by security personnel supported by armored cars equipped with mounted water cannons.
Following altercations between demonstrators and police, officials said that at least 20 policemen were hurt, while security personnel claimed to have detained 15 individuals.
Protesters burned a local radio station’s vehicle and hurled Molotov cocktails at bicycles. The far-left Unión por la Patria claims that police used pepper spray to break up a group of protestors, resulting in the hospitalization of at least four opposition MPs.
The presidency denounced the demonstrators and said that they were “terrorists.” He characterized it as a coup d’état that sought to disrupt the normal functioning of the Argentine National Congress.
Although Milei came to office promising to address Argentina’s greatest economic crisis in 20 years, his party, which is mostly made up of relative newcomers, has only a small number of members in Congress, and he has had difficulty reaching agreements with the opposition. He wants to cut government expenditures, privatize state-owned businesses, and use tax breaks to entice foreign investment.
