Anti-government protests in Argentina turned violent when the police clashed with protesters exacerbated by President Javier Milei’s austerity measures. The confrontation, which had been escalating for a while, reached a critical point on Wednesday, with police using force to disband protesters blocking a crucial thoroughfare in the capital. Further reports indicate that Milei, who had become the torchbearer for groups protesting in Buenos Aires, was the main cause of this dissatisfaction. The encounters led to the arrest of 11 people and at least six individuals were injured.
Protesters voiced against the economic austerity measures enacted by President Milei and demanded food for community kitchens. The use of force was necessitated when hundreds of activists from Argentinian social organizations disrupted traffic on one of Buenos Aires’ primary avenues, Avenida 9 de Julio. They adamantly disregarded Milei’s administration protocol that prohibits street blockades. It is estimated that around 4,000 people participated in the protests.
Security Secretary of the City of Buenos Aires and Chief of Police Diego Kravetz publicly stated that their aim was to clear the blockade on 9 de Julio Avenue, hence the use of water cannons and dispersal tactics against the protesters, primarily from the Unión Trabajadores de la Economía Popular (UTEP) and Polo Obrero organizations, who opposed the president’s economic policies.
Buenos Aires Minister of Justice and Security Waldo Wolff confirmed these developments in a later interview, stating that eleven people had been detained, eight police officers injured and two journalists were amongst those harmed during the protest. He stressed that the detainees were treated according to established judicial procedure. Wolff added that this crackdown would be repeated as many times as necessary to ensure the law is upheld.
The root of the protests was President Milei’s decree 70/2023 and the controversial omnibus bill he hoped to implement as a part of his reform. Milei, a proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist,” has championed severe austerity, shock therapy, and privatization to revive the Argentine economy. The decrees intend to deregulate various Argentine industries, including energy, transportation, and also suggest privatizing state-owned companies. They also propose heavy fines for protesters blocking roadways.