Argentina: Milei represses people who took to the streets in defense of retirees

The Chamber of Deputies ratified Milei’s veto against the increase in retirees’ salaries, despite a peaceful crowd protesting in front of the National Congress against the neoliberal policies of the far-right government. A repressive protocol against demonstrations was activated and the population was once again harshly repressed. The protest was called by different organizations of retirees, unions, social movements and left-wing parties.

Repression has been the model followed by the government to approve packages of state sales and destruction of social rights since it took power in Argentina. The OAS, the European Union and much less the US mention the fact. Hegemonic media ignores the violence and the state of exception created by Milei, while Venezuela is always questioned.

by Bruno Falci, from Buenos Aires, for the Portal O Cafezinho

The Chamber of Deputies ratified on Wednesday, the 11th, the veto of the far-right president Javier Milei to the pension mobility law that improved the salaries of retired workers. The session in Congress took place after a meeting between legislators from the Radical Civic Union (UCR) and government officials, in which they negotiated their support for the adjustment.

The Government, after these last-minute agreements, celebrated and breathed a sigh of relief this Wednesday when it managed to maintain the veto on the law on mobility of pensions, which the opposition tried to reject, without success, in the Chamber of Deputies. It was a hot day, when the tension was added to the situation on the ground with the protesters outside, in the middle of a special repressive operation.

The victory of the ruling party and its allies came after the opposition failed to obtain two-thirds of the votes. The vote resulted in 153 votes in favor of insisting on the rule, compared to 87 negative votes and 8 abstentions. There were 248 deputies present at the time of the vote. Therefore, the opponents needed to gather 166 votes to reach two-thirds.

Popular forces

Thousands of people surrounded the National Congress against Milei’s neoliberal policies that attempt to destroy workers’ rights. A repressive protocol against demonstrations was activated. The protest was called from noon by different organizations of retirees, unions, left-wing parties and picket groups, which from 10 am began to gather near the Parliament.

Among the forces that will gather are those on the left, with the leader of the Polo Obrero Eduardo Belliboni at the forefront, and union leaders Hugo Godoy, general secretary of the CTA Autônoma, and Hugo Yasky, general secretary of the CTA. The presence of the CGT is also expected, through the internal line headed by Pablo Moyano.

In addition, the organizations grouped in the Union of Workers of the Popular Economy (UTEP) related to Kirchnerism joined the call, among which the Evita Movement, led by Emilio Pérsico; Barrios de Pie, with the Buenos Aires official Daniel Menéndez, the Classist and Combative Current (CCC) of former deputy Juan Carlos Alderete; and the Movement of Excluded Workers of Juan Grabois.

Repressive protocol

Milei’s government has implemented a strong security operation for this Wednesday in response to the mobilization against the veto of the Retirees’ Mobility Law, following the incidents in the recent retirees’ marches near the National Congress. The repressive operation, led by the Ministry of Security, led by Patrícia Bullrich, mobilized troops from the five forces: Federal Police, City Hall, Gendarmerie and Airport Security Police. This has been happening since Milei took power in Argentina. The OAS, the European Union and, much less, the US, have not mentioned the fact. The mainstream media ignores the violence and the state of exception created by Milei, while Venezuela is always questioned.

Faced with the dramatic demonstrations by the elderly, many of whom walk with the support of canes and are attacked by a strong police force, Milei’s predatory government has always made it clear that it is willing to do anything to impose its veto on the modest increase in pensions. It has always stated that it is serving the big businessmen, for whom it has reduced the tax on their assets (personal property). With the hunger of the retired, it subsidizes the richest in the country, while at the same time guaranteeing that “no hay plata” (“there is no money”).

In the square, in front of and around Congress, brutal police repression once again took place. Tear gas, batons and rubber bullets. This was the repressive menu carried out by the three federal forces that punished the protesters. Many were arrested, injured and hospitalized. Among the injured was a woman who was hit by rubber bullets and a 10-year-old girl who was hit by the tear gas, as well as press workers.

Unión por la Patria national senator Oscar Parrilli called Bullrich “the minister of citizen violence” for creating “a climate of violence and repression against peaceful protesters.” He added:
“I hold the minister responsible, because sending security forces has nothing to do with this, because if she talks about a circulation protocol, she can coordinate with the protesters, peacefully and without violence,” he told AM 750 radio.

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Argentina, on the edge of the precipice

It is not an easy task to tame the Argentine economy. Always on the edge of the precipice, one wrong step is enough for everything to explode.

Inflation in Argentina has caused a pension deficit, forcing retirees to scrimp on basic foodstuffs and medicines. Every two weeks, a group of retirees gathers at the Caballito Villa Crespo community center in Buenos Aires to try to forget their financial woes over snacks and board games.

More than 85 percent of retirees in Argentina receive an average of 58,500 pesos ($265) per month. That equates to about 6.5 million people receiving a minimum pension, below the poverty line. Meanwhile, inflation figures showed a 7.7 percent increase in March, bringing the annual inflation rate to 105 percent. Despite an increase in the government subsidy of $67 per month, the costs of rent, medicine and food have soared beyond the reach of seniors. Argentina has one of the lowest pensions in the region.

Poverty affects 55.5% of the Argentine population at the end of the first quarter of this year, according to a report by the Social Debt Observatory of the Argentine Catholic University (UCA) presented by Cáritas Argentina — which represents almost 25 million inhabitants. The period coincides with the administration of President Javier Milei, who took office in December, while the release of the report occurs in the midst of a crisis involving the Ministry of Human Capital, which appealed a court decision to distribute stored food. The latest official data available correspond to the second half of 2023, when the poverty rate was 41.7%, according to the second statistical institute Indec, which will present the results for the first half of 2024 in September.