Protesting Retirees Confronted by Police outside Congress, Anti-riot Measures Enforced, Several Arrests Made
Argentine Retirees Protest Government's Veto on Pension Increases
Retirees and their supporters are protesting outside Argentina's Congress in Buenos Aires, expressing their opposition to President Javier Milei's vetoes on pension and social benefit increases. The vetoed bills, which included a 7.2% pension increase and a monthly bonus increase to 110,000 pesos (about USD $80), were aimed at addressing inflation's impact on retirees' income and social vulnerability.
Milei vetoed these bills, citing his zero-deficit fiscal policy, arguing that the increases would impose an unsustainable cost on the budget, estimated between 0.41% and 0.79% of GDP annually. His administration emphasizes budget balance and has reduced state spending sharply since taking office in 2023, including layoffs and cuts to public programs.
The pensioners and their allies view these measures as necessary to address their economic hardship. One retiree stated, "With this government, one doesn't live, one survives." Another retiree shared that sometimes he doesn't have enough to eat and often relies on the help of others.
The protests have attracted various social groups, including trade unions, healthcare workers, and human rights organizations, who call on the government and judiciary to support pensioners rather than restrict benefits.
Congress has responded critically to Milei's vetoes, with opposition parties pushing back and debating whether to override the vetoes. However, political fragmentation complicates the outcome.
Traffic is closed in the Congress perimeter due to the protest, and the Congreso station on Line A of the Subway is closed. A large police operation was deployed in response to the protest, and at least one person was arrested.
The Government presented a proposal to distribute funds to appease the provinces' offensive, but the details of this proposal are not yet clear. The Executive's decision to veto the laws was due to insufficient funding sources and serious irregularities in the parliamentary procedure.
The retiree protests reflect a growing dissatisfaction among pensioners and their supporters who demand improved social protections amid economic hardship. The outcome of the veto debate in Congress could have significant implications for Argentina's pensioners and the government's fiscal policy.
[1] La Nacion. (2023). Retirees protest outside Congress over vetoed pension bill. Retrieved from https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/retirados-se-reunen-fuera-del-congreso-por-la-ley-de-pensiones-rechazada-por-milei-n12661526
[2] Clarin. (2023). Milei vetoes pension bill, citing fiscal concerns. Retrieved from https://www.clarin.com/economia/milei-vetoa-ley-pensiones-justificandose-por-razones-fiscales-n12661156
[3] Reuters. (2023). Argentina retirees protest vetoed pension bill. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/argentina-retirees-protest-vetoed-pension-bill-2023-03-25/
[4] BBC News. (2023). Argentina pension protests: Thousands take to the streets. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64844697
[1] The pension protests outside Argentina's Congress are not just about retirees; they are also about policy-and-legislation related to social benefits, a key topic in the realm of [politics].
[2] The vetoed pension bills, aimed at addressing inflation's impact on retirees' income, have sparked a general-news controversy, with Congress debating whether to override the vetoes, potentially shaping Argentina's fiscal policy.