Argentina’s Senate narrowly greenlit President Javier Milei’s contentious economic reform package amidst fierce clashes between demonstrators and riot police outside Congress.
Protesters in Buenos Aires, fearing the reforms would devastate millions of Argentines, hurled petrol bombs and stones, igniting vehicles. Local media depicted the tumultuous scene on Wednesday as a “battlefield,” reporting numerous injuries.
The reform package aims to revive Argentina’s beleaguered economy by declaring a state of economic emergency, cutting pensions, and weakening labor rights. President Milei, a right-wing economist, has wrestled with a severe economic crisis since taking office six months ago. With annual inflation nearing 300% and over half the population in poverty, the stakes are high.
Milei’s drastic measures face strong opposition from leftist parties, labor unions, and social organizations. A preliminary vote in the Senate on Wednesday ended in a 36-36 tie, which was broken by Vice-President Victoria Villarruel.
“My vote is affirmative for the Argentines who endure hardships, who wait with hope, and who wish to see their children remain in our country,” Vice-President Villarruel announced. The 328-article bill will now undergo a point-by-point review before its anticipated full approval on Thursday, after which it will return to the lower house for final authorization.
Ahead of the Senate vote, protesters chanted slogans like “The country is not for sale, the country is defended,” with banners asking, “How can a head of state hate the state?” Violence erupted when demonstrators attempted to breach fences to approach Congress, resulting in rocks being thrown and police deploying pepper spray. Observers and opposition MPs reported that dozens of demonstrators and several MPs required medical attention, with at least five opposition MPs hospitalized, according to legislator Cecilia Moreau. Officials stated that at least 20 police officers were injured, and law enforcement detained 15 individuals.
Fabio Nunez, a 55-year-old protesting lawyer, expressed disbelief: “We cannot believe that in Argentina we are discussing a law that will put us back 100 years.” President Milei’s office issued a statement commending the security forces for suppressing what they described as “terrorists” attempting a coup d’état. President Milei announced at a Buenos Aires conference, “We are set to transform Argentina and turn it into the world’s most liberal nation.”
The polarizing bill initially passed the lower house in April following significant amendments. Milei, elected in 2023, campaigned on promises to drastically reduce public spending, famously wielding a chainsaw during speeches to symbolize his intent. Since taking office, he has halved the cabinet, eliminated 50,000 public jobs, suspended new public works contracts, and cut fuel and transport subsidies.