Argentina: Pensionists Represseds During Protest Over Javier Milei’s Veto

Dmeostratirs against the police, Aug 2024 Photo: Radio 580 Nic

September 4, 2024 Hour: 7:16 pm

After the veto of the extreme right-wing government, the purchasing power of Argentine pensioners is at an historic low.

Argentinean protesters participating in the march called by social organizations and retirees to reject President Javier Milei’s veto of the retirement mobility law were sprayed with tear gas outside the Congress.

The pensioners are mobilized this Wednesday from the Congress to Plaza de Mayo to reject the veto of President Javier Milei to the law on previsional adjustment approved by the Congress, which aimed to establish a wage recomposition for retirees and retirees equivalent to 8,1 percent, to make the sector less vulnerable to rising inflation and the libertarian’s economic policy.

The march was organized by the National Coordinating Bureau of Retirees and Pensioners’ Organizations, which represents dozens of groups.

The protest is also supported by social organizations, trade unions, political groups and student movements. According to local media, the Argentine Naval Prefecture was deploying troops outside the Congress to activate the anti-picket protocol of the Security Minister, Patricia Bullrich.

🚨 BASTA DE #REPRESIÓN
4 fuerzas federales comandadas por Patricia Bullrich, con palos, gases, camiones hidrantes y policía motorizada reprimieron organizaciones de #jubilados y a decenas de manifestantes que acompañan el reclamo contra el veto de Milei
Seguimos en las calles ✊🏼 pic.twitter.com/lbO3lrrpqo
— Frente de Izquierda Unidad (@Fte_Izquierda) September 4, 2024

The security forces stationed in front of the mobilized demonstrators acted similarly to last Wednesday, when a concentration was repressed with tear gas and caning under the «anti-picket protocol» promoted by Minister Patricia Bullrich.

Retirees are calling for Congress to lift the veto, arguing that it is not just the increase the lack of transfer of national tax funds to provincial pension funds by the government and its refusal to pay court judgments in their favour.

This new march continues the campaign to collect one million signatures against the veto, coordinated by 35 groups of retirees, including both historic organizations and new spaces that have emerged in response to libertarian adjustments.