Chaos in Buenos Aires. There riot police of the Argentine capital had to intervene with tear gas and water cannons to disperse the demonstrators in front of the Congress, who were protesting against the newly approved reform package. Proposed by right-wing president Javier Milei to boost the economy, the package includes the declaration of a state of economic emergencycutting pensions and weakening workers’ rights.
The protesters – who argue that the measures will harm millions of Argentines – have launched Molotov cocktails And stones, setting a car on fire and several people were injured. Local media described the scene as a “battlefield”.
Milei’s package of bills passed by just one vote: Senators voted 37-36 to give overall approval to the state overhaul bill after 11 hours of heated debate. But lawmakers have yet to approve the individual measures in one vote article by article which will last all night. If the Senate approves the bills with amendments, the Lower house he must then give his green light. So Milei still hasn’t officially passed any laws since he took office last December.
The senators voted a tax package that lowers the income tax threshold and a 238-item state reform bill that passed the lower house of Congress in late April after weeks of negotiations. Initially nicknamed “omnibus law” Because of its more than 600 articles, the watered-down version under discussion still delegates broad legislative powers to the president in energy, pensions, security and other areas.
The vote opened after hours of debate overshadowed by scenes of violent chaos outside Congress, in the center of Buenos Aires. Protesters urged senators to reject Milei’s program of austerity and economic deregulation. They were launched sticksstones and Molotov bombs against the police that has fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
