Riots at demonstration against low pensions in Argentina
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters, who threw stones at the officers and set fire to a police car and rubbish bins, as reported by the newspaper La Nación. According to the paper, the police arrested at least 150 people and several people were injured in the clashes.
Argentina's Security Ministry spoke of 124 arrested in a statement late on Wednesday. It also said that 26 members of the city security forces and police were injured and taken to hospital, including one person who suffered a gunshot wound and underwent surgery.
The ministry also reported 20 injuries among people it characterized as protesters, including one in serious condition. Local media reported that a photographer covering the protest was in critical condition after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister.
Numerous football ultras were among the demonstrators, the ministry confirmed. The so-called "Barrabravas" have a lot of influence in Argentina and have contacts in the criminal underworld.
Members of various left-wing groups and trade unions also took part in the demonstration in front of the congress building, according to media reports.
Argentinian trade union federation CGT condemned in a statement what it called "savage actions" by the Milei government "violently, senselessly, and illegally repressed today's demonstration in Plaza Congreso."
The union accused police forces of using "brutality" to repress the demonstration, injuring people "including pensioners, protesters, media workers, and even some unsuspecting pedestrians in the area."
Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof also condemned the "ferocious, illegal, and premeditated" repression of the protest.
"A barrage of violence against pensioners and citizens protesting against the austerity measures," the governor said in a post on X. "What happened today is an attack on fundamental democratic rights."
"While a photographer fights for his life, government spokespersons lie, justify violence, and spread hatred. This authoritarian rampage must be urgently stopped."
Milei took office in December 2023, and initiated radical reforms. Thousands of civil servants were dismissed, and social programmes were massively cut.
While his austerity measures significantly reduced inflation, they also stifled the economy. In this once-affluent country, now more than 50% of people live below the poverty line.
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