Dozens injured in pension protest outside Argentina Congress
BUENOS AIRES, May 21 (Reuters) - Dozens of people were injured during a protest outside Argentina's Congress on Wednesday where activists and retired Argentines demanded higher pensions, according to Reuters witnesses.
TV footage showed elderly protesters and activists singing and chanting as security forces pushed through the crowd in Buenos Aires with riot shields and batons.
The protest took place outside Congress as deputies failed to reach quorum for several bills, including proposals for pension increases and continuity of benefits for retirees.
The government of libertarian President Javier Milei, which has sought to improve the economy and tackle painfully high inflation by slashing public spending, opposed both proposals.
Milei's austerity drive has triggered weekly protests in the capital, with workers' unions and soccer fans joining retirees to protest pension cuts amid stubborn inflation and reduced public spending.
"This place, the home of democracy, cannot remain indifferent when a pensioner is earning 379,000 pesos (about $331 a month)," lawmaker Paula Oliveto of the center Civic Coalition party said during the Congress session.
Some 124 lawmakers were present for voting while 133 were absent.
Esteban Paulon, a Socialist Party representative, accused lawmakers who supported the government's policies of laughing when the session failed due to lack of quorum.
"The government's plan is evidently to kill millions of people collecting minimum wage through hunger," he said.
The government argues that its resources are limited and to increase pensions, the country must first see more investment and economic growth.
Around 38% of people in South America's No. 2 economy were in poverty - 11.3 million people - in the second half of last year, according to government data. This was down from 53% recorded in the first half.
($1 = 1,146.0000 Argentine pesos)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Reuters
Milei meets Pope Leo, confirms visit to Argentina
BUENOS AIRES, June 7 (Reuters) - Argentina's President Javier Milei held his first official audience with Pope Leo at the Vatican on Saturday where he confirmed that the pontiff will visit the South American country, according to the presidential spokesman. No further details of the planned visit were disclosed on Saturday. Milei had a tense relationship with Pope Francis, the late Argentine pope who never returned to his native country during his 12-year papacy, potentially signaling the start of a new diplomatic chapter. "The Pope confirmed to the President during our recent meeting that he will visit Argentina," Manuel Adorni, the presidential spokesperson wrote via social media. The papal visit could take place as soon as next year, according to Argentina's daily newspaper La Nación, as part of a tour that would include stops in Uruguay and Peru, where Leo, the first U.S. pope, resided for nearly 20 years. Milei, a libertarian and ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, was not present at the inauguration ceremony of the new head of the Catholic Church due to local legislative elections he was required to attend. Discussions between the two parties on Saturday were described as "cordial" and addressed issues of "common interest such as socioeconomic progress, the fight against poverty, and the commitment to social cohesion, in addition to addressing ongoing conflicts," the Vatican later said in a statement. Milei met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday in Rome as part of his visit, where an agreement between Italian energy group Eni ( opens new tab and Argentina's state-owned energy firm YPF was signed.
BBC News
11 hours ago
- BBC News
Leicester woman vows to fight 'political' camping table fine
A woman has vowed to fight a fine she was given for setting up a table in Leicester city centre while campaigning against city council Rawling was given a £100 penalty under new rules to prevent anti-social behaviour on Saturday 31 72-year-old, from Leicester, said she believed the fine had been issued to prevent political campaigning and she would rather go to court than council said its new public spaces protection order (PSPO) introduced in April does not restrict free speech and that Mrs Rawling had been fined for putting an unauthorised structure on the highway. Mrs Rawling, a member of the Socialist Party, said she was not causing a nuisance or blocking the highway. "I accept the PSPO can be needed to deal with people on e-bikes, noisy speakers or street drinkers," she said."But this was a small camping table which we had for leaflets and so people could sign a petition."I don't think we were in anybody's way. There's plenty of space. We weren't being a nuisance."I think this was political - we were asked to take it down because we were campaigning about council cuts."It was all very amicable. The warden asked me to take it down. I said I would not and he issued a fine."I'm not going to pay it on principle, and if I have to go to court, I will."Mrs Rawling said she was opposing cuts to public services at the city council, including potential closures of community centres, and public sector job council said the penalty for breaching a PSPO could rise to £1,000 if the matter goes to court for prosecution. 'Noticeably improved' Campaigners previously wrote to Leicester's mayor Sir Peter Soulsby seeking assurances they are exempt from the PSPO.A number of groups including unions and political parties said they feared the order could "constitute an unjustified limit on their democratic rights" as the ban also includes "unauthorised structures" such as banners, stalls and told the BBC: "There's absolutely nothing in the PSPO that prevents people from going out and trying to persuade people on political matters - if they do it without a table or gazebo or loud speaker."A council spokesperson said: "The PSPO does not restrict freedom of speech, but it does restrict the nuisance of amplifiers, gazebos and other structures that more than 1,100 respondents to our consultation told us negatively impacted their experience of Leicester city centre."Many groups have been respectful of this so far and, as a result, the environment in the city centre is noticeably improved.""This group had put up a table, in breach of the public spaces protection order (PSPO) that covers the city centre. "One of our wardens asked them to take down the table and advised that if they didn't, they would be issued with a fixed penalty notice. "They refused to take it down and so a fine was issued."The council said three fixed penalty notices were issued in May under the new PSPO rules - all relating to unauthorised use of unauthorised structures on the highway.
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Brazil held by Ecuador in Ancelotti's first game
Carlo Ancelotti's reign as Brazil boss started with a lacklustre 0-0 draw away at Ecuador in South American World Cup five-time World Cup winners were unable to break down a resolute Ecuador defence, with Flamengo midfielder Gerson coming closest to breaking the deadlock in Guayaquil. Ecuador's best opportunity came towards the end of the first half, when Venezia forward John Yeboah's header went agonisingly over the pushed for a winner, with goalkeeper Gonzalo Valle saving well from Manchester United midfielder Ancelotti, who was named Brazil boss last month after leaving Real Madrid, had to settle for a draw during his first game in result leaves Brazil in fourth place in the qualifying group, with 22 points after 15 are in second place with 24 points, 10 points behind leaders and World Cup holders Argentina. Lionel Messi's side beat Chile 1-0 thanks to a goal from Atletico Madrid forward Julian Miami playmaker Messi was a second-half substitute as the side strengthened their place at the top of beat Uruguay 2-0 to move into joint-second with midfielder Matias Galarza opened the scoring, before Brighton forward Julio Enciso secured the points from the penalty spot nine minutes from time. The top six teams in the table qualify automatically for the 2026 World Cup, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
