Dozens were injured on Wednesday, May 21, during a protest outside Argentina’s Congress, where activists and retired citizens rallied to demand higher pensions, Reuters reported citing witnesses.
TV footage showed elderly protesters and activists singing and chanting as security forces pushed through the crowd in Buenos Aires, the capital city, with riot shields and batons.
The protest took place outside Congress as deputies failed to reach quorum for several bills, including proposals for pension increases and continuity of benefits for retirees.
Both Proposals Refused By Milei Govt
The government of libertarian President Javier Milei, which has sought to improve the economy and tackle painfully high inflation by slashing public spending, opposed both proposals.
Milei’s austerity drive has triggered weekly protests in the capital city, with workers’ unions and soccer fans joining retirees to protest pension cuts amid stubborn inflation and reduced public spending.
“This place, the home of democracy, cannot remain indifferent when a pensioner is earning 379,000 pesos (about $331 a month),” lawmaker Paula Oliveto of the center Civic Coalition party said during the Congress session.
Some 124 lawmakers were present for voting while 133 were absent.
Govt Planning To Kill Millions Through Hunger?
Esteban Paulon, a Socialist Party representative, accused the lawmakers who supported the government’s policies of laughing when the session failed due to lack of quorum.
“The government’s plan is evidently to kill millions of people collecting minimum wage through hunger,” he said.
Limited Resources; More Investment Required
The government argues that its resources are limited and to increase pensions, the country must first get more investment and witness economic growth.
Around 38% of people in South America’s second largest economy were in poverty – 11.3 million people – in the second half of last year, according to government data. This was down from 53% recorded in the first half.
($1 = 1,146.0000 Argentine pesos)
(With inputs from Reuters)
