“Let us all mobilize together this December 20th against hunger, in defense of real work, wages, pensions, healthcare and education, of all our rights, against repression and the attack on social plans” say the leader
This Wednesday (20th), protesters invaded the streets of Buenos Airesaround 4pm, in the first major protest against the government of the newly elected president Javier Milei. The movement was organized by Unidad Piquetera (UP) and contested the “Plano Motosserra”, a package of economic measures to cut public spending and contain Argentine inflation.
To test Security Minister Patricia Bullrich’s new anti-protest policy, protesters headed to the Plaza de Mayo with their demands.
“Let us all mobilize together this December 20th against hunger, in defense of real work, wages, pensions, healthcare and education, of all our rights, against repression and attacks on the social plans of human organizations, social, student, environmentalist, gender, trade union and political rights, we have carried out the first major united action to fight againstCaputo and Bullrich’s repressive protocol”the leaders of the movement declared.
Hours before the protest, police coverage was strengthened in several parts of the capital, as well as at train stations, to contain any demonstrators who disembarked. The forces were authorized to search any passenger.
During the mobilization the police also clashed with the demonstrators. The incidents were recorded in Diagonal Norte, while in other areas, such as Avenida Belgrano, officers used pepper spray for containment.
There was anticipation regarding the protest, as Milei and Bullrich declared repressive measures against popular demonstrations, such as identifying those responsible, charging organizations for any damage committed during the acts, as well as creating a list of frequent offenders .
Monday (18th), the Minister of Human Capital, Sandra Pettovelloreinforced the idea by declaring cuts to social benefits for any identified protester. “The only ones who will not receive social benefits are those who go to the demonstration and close the streets. The president has already said ‘whoever cuts, does not receive'”.
“Today we took a very important step”said Security Minister Patricia Bullrich. “With this new government we are starting a different way of dealing with the permanent pickets, the permanent road closures that Argentina has suffered for more than 20 years”.
The mayor of Buenos Aires, Jorge Macrìalso celebrated the “mission accomplished”. “The important thing today is that the logic of those who control the streets has changed. We come from a country and a city where the protesters did what they wanted”.
President Javier Milei was at the Central Department of the country’s Federal Police at the beginning of the movements to monitor the actions. Less than an hour later, he, Bullrich, Pettovello and the secretary general of the presidency, Karina Mileihe left the scene.
Milei speaks
After the protests, President Javier Milei broadcast a statement on television and radio in which he appears accompanied by his entire cabinet. “Today is a historic day for our country. After decades of failure, impoverishment and anomie, today we formally begin the process of reconstruction. Since we took office, we have focused on trying to contain the enormous crisis we inherited”.
In the statement, the president highlighted the decree of necessity and urgency (DNU), to deregulate the country’s economy. Among the main initiatives of the DNU are changes to the labor system, the simplification of some bureaucratic procedures to modernize the state and the repeal of the rent law.
“We are doing our best to try to reduce the tragic effects of what could be the worst crisis in our history, the product of decades of governments insisting on failed recipes”he underlined.
Check out the full statement here:
Source: Terra
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