2024 Argentina protests explained

2024 Argentina protestsProtestas argentinas de 2024
Date:January 2024 – June 2024
Place:Mainly Buenos Aires, Argentina
Methods:Protests, demonstrations, civil disobedience, civil resistance, online activism, riots

The 2024 Argentina protests are a significant wave of protests and riots in response to reforms introduced by President Javier Milei.

Milei proposes reducing government ministries and addressing economic challenges through spending cuts and fiscal reforms, criticizing previous administrations for excessive spending.[1] Protestors, on the other hand, are criticizing Milei's reforms and government for causing inflation and poverty[2] and for weakening Argentina's democracy.[3]

The reforms include tax breaks for investors and the firing of thousands of state employees. The protestors have called these reforms "radical overhaul".[4]

On June 12, 2024, Argentina's Senate passed Milei's reforms by a majority vote of 37–36. The package includes "measures on privatization and tax breaks for investors".[5] Most of the protests took place in Buenos Aires, the capital and most populous city in Argentina. Riot police attempted to disperse the protestors and arrested 18. A car belonging to the radio station Cadena 3 was set on fire.[6]

Background

As inflation rose above 100 percent in May 2023,[7] Milei's position in the polls rose, and in the August 2023 primary elections, which was seen as an indication of how citizens were likely to vote in the October 2023 general election, he emerged as the leading candidate.[8]

Milei took office as president on December 10, 2023. In addition to a lack of support in Congress,[9] Milei was openly discussing his wide-ranging reforms, causing opposition among workers' unions and others.[10]

According to The Washington Post, Milei's reform package has a diverse array of measures:

The reform package suffered a large amount of criticism from Kirchnerism, non-Kirchnerist Peronism, a small traditional left-wing force, and the Radical Civic Union.[11] [12]

Protests

January

The reform package was implemented on January 24, 2024. A general strike was planned throughout Argentina in response to these changes. The US embassy in Argentina warned US tourists, telling them to "avoid areas of demonstrations".[13]

On January 24, 2024, tens of thousands took to the streets to protest Milei's reforms.[14] The protestors were heading to the CGT, the main labor union of the country.

"We come to defend 40 years of democracy, defend the homeland," CGT leader Hector Daer told the crowd. The protest had 40,000 participants.[15]

On January 31, 2024, police dispersed anti-government protests, injuring 25 journalists and arresting six.[16]

February

On February 1, 2024, four women were arrested for peacefully protesting in front of Congress Plaza.[17]

On February 3, 2024, Argentine human rights groups accused the Argentine Federal Police of using chemical agents and rubber bullets against 35 journalists and lawyers.[18]

On February 8, 2024, Argentinian activists launched a protest along Pueyrredón Bridge.[19]

On February 23, 2024, thousands protested across Argentina to demand food aid for the poor as inflation soared.[20]

March

On March 18, 2024, Argentina's social movements blocked over 500 roads countrywide. Several people suffered light injuries and a violent police crackdown was reported in Mendoza.[21]

On March 19, 2024, two officers and a journalist were injured in anti-government riots.[22]

April

On April 10, 2024, 11 protestors were arrested and at least half a dozen injured as police cracked down on protesters in Buenos Aires.[23]

On April 11, 2024, Argentina police clashed with anti-government protesters over government spending cuts, injuring at least six.[24]

On April 23, 2024, universities in Argentina defied Milei's spending cuts with a massive march. According to reports from social organisations, the protest was dispersed, with arrests reported.[25]

On April 26, 2024, massive protests occurred across Argentina, against higher education budget cuts.[26]

May

On May 7, 2024, 11 were arrested in a protest to demand food aid. The rally took place in front of the presidential residence in Olivos.[27]

On May 9, 2024, Argentina's biggest trade unions announced a 24-hour strike,[28] causing 46 million to a standstill as banks, businesses and state agencies closed in protest.[29]

On May 26, 2024, Argentina's police dispersed a peaceful anti-government protest in Córdoba. Several people were arrested and injured.[30]

On May 30, 2024, Argentina trains slowed down in a protest.[31]

June

On June 12, 2024, Argentina's Senate passed Milei's reforms. In response, anti-government protestors clashed with Argentinian police forces in Buenos Aires and other cities across Argentina.[32] Security forces fired tear gas and water cannons at rioting demonstrators outside National Congress of Argentina. At least five people were injured and were treated by medical staff.[33] Protesters threw stones and molotov cocktails outside Congress.[34] The Buenos Aires press union reported that at least a dozen journalists were hit by rubber bullets.[35] Authorities reported at least 20 police officers injured.[36] Security forces later said that they arrested 15 people.[37]

Responses

Decline

After taking office in December 2023, Patricia Bullrich immediately issued a protocol to deal with demonstrations and roadblocks made by piqueteros. The Workers' Party made an habeas corpus request to prevent the protocol from coming into force, which judge Gustavo Pierretti rejected. Several groups of Piqueteros called for a massive demonstration on December 20, a week after the inauguration of Javier Milei. The government announced that demonstrators who committed crimes during demonstrations, such as roadblocks or vandalism, would lose their welfare payments, and provided a phone number to denounce piquetero leaders who would be coercing people to take part in such demonstrations. The demonstration had very little attendance, and the phone calls were summarized into 660 denounces.[42] The policies were kept for all later protests. The welfare aid that was outsourced to piquetero organizations returned to the direct state control, and social leaders that worked at the ministry of Social Development, despite the conflict of interest, were fired. Several audits revealed that some social organizations, which were in charge of overseeing outsourced welfare aid, allocated only a fraction of it for its intended purpose. All of this decreased the power of piqueteros, and protests and demonstrations rapidly decreased in size.[43]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: x.com . 2024-06-13 . X (formerly Twitter).
  2. News: 2024-01-24 . Argentina: Tens of thousands march against Javier Milei's cuts . 2024-06-13 . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Meredith . Sam . 2024-06-13 . Argentina's Senate passes Milei's economic reform bill as protesters clash with riot police . 2024-06-13 . CNBC . en.
  4. Web site: 2024-06-13 . Protesters clash with police as President Javier Milei's radical overhaul advances in Argentina's Senate . 2024-06-13 . NBC News . en.
  5. Web site: 'Lives at play': Argentina's Senate passes Milei reforms as protests rage . 2024-06-13 . Al Jazeera . en.
  6. Web site: Buenos Aires sees violent protests over Milei's reforms in Argentina . 2024-06-13 . Al Jazeera . en.
  7. Web site: Santamaria . Carlos . 15 May 2023 . Will Argentina adopt the US dollar? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230518023359/https://www.gzeromedia.com/will-argentina-adopt-the-us-dollar . 18 May 2023 . 20 August 2023 . GZERO Media.
  8. Web site: Argentine far-right outsider Javier Milei posts shock win in primary election . Reuters.
  9. Web site: The Odds Are Stacked Against Argentina's Next President . 2024-06-13 . carnegieendowment.org . en.
  10. Web site: Explainer: What is in Javier Milei's sweeping Argentina reform bill? . Reuters.
  11. Web site: UCR: conflictos son por "meros berrinches" de Javier Milei – DW – 20/05/2024 . 2024-06-13 . dw.com . es.
  12. Web site: Choroszczucha . Sandra . 2024-04-04 . What is the opposition to Milei today in Argentina? . 2024-06-13 . Latinoamérica 21 . en-US.
  13. Web site: 2007-10-16 . How to Avoid a Collision . 2024-06-13 . Wolfram Demonstrations Project. 10.3840/07002283 . 1 November 2024 .
  14. News: 2024-01-24 . Argentina: Tens of thousands take to the streets to protest Milei's far-right reforms . 2024-06-13 . Le Monde.fr . en.
  15. Web site: Criales . José Pablo . 2024-01-24 . General strike in Argentina puts Javier Milei's government to the test . 2024-06-14 . EL PAÍS English . en-us.
  16. Web site: Iglesia . Facundo . 2024-02-01 . Omnibus bill: Argentine police crack down on protesters outside Congress . 2024-06-14 . Buenos Aires Herald . en-US.
  17. Web site: Four women arrested for peaceful protest outside Congress released after outcry Buenos Aires Times . 2024-06-14 . www.batimes.com.ar. February 2024 .
  18. Web site: Iglesia . Facundo . 2024-02-03 . Argentine human rights groups file complaint against government in IACHR . 2024-06-14 . Buenos Aires Herald . en-US.
  19. Web site: Argentina: Activists launch protest along Pueyrredon Bridge, in Buenos Aires Feb. 8 . 2024-06-14 . Argentina: Activists launch protest along Pueyrredon Bridge, in Buenos Aires Feb. 8 Crisis24 . en.
  20. Web site: 2024-02-23 . Thousands protest as hunger grows amid Argentine austerity . 2024-06-14 . France 24 . en.
  21. Web site: Herald . Buenos Aires . 2024-03-18 . Argentina's social movements block over 500 roads countrywide . 2024-06-14 . Buenos Aires Herald . en-US.
  22. Web site: 2024-03-18 . In Argentina, police confront demonstrators protesting social cuts . 2024-06-14 . Yahoo News . en-US.
  23. Web site: Eleven arrests as police crack down on protesters in Buenos Aires Buenos Aires Times . 2024-06-14 . www.batimes.com.ar. 10 April 2024 .
  24. Web site: 2024-04-11 . Argentina police clash with anti-government protesters over government spending cuts . 2024-06-14 . www.jurist.org . en-US.
  25. Web site: Universities defy Milei's spending cuts with massive march Buenos Aires Times . 2024-06-14 . batimes.com.ar. 23 April 2024 .
  26. Web site: Mora . Sebastian Rodriguez . 2024-04-26 . Massive protests across Argentina against higher education budget cuts . 2024-06-14 . Argentina Reports . en.
  27. Web site: Protesters march on presidential residence to demand food aid Buenos Aires Times . 2024-06-14 . www.batimes.com.ar. 7 May 2024 .
  28. Web site: 2024-05-09 . Argentina labor unions' 24-hour strike against President Milei paralyzes daily life . 2024-06-14 . Yahoo Finance . en-US.
  29. Web site: 2024-05-09 . Argentina labour unions' 1-day strike against President Milei paralyzes daily life . 2024-06-14 . CTVNews . en.
  30. Web site: orinocotribune . 2024-05-26 . Argentina's Police Repress Peaceful Anti-Government Protest in Córdoba . 2024-06-14 . Orinoco Tribune - News and opinion pieces about Venezuela and beyond . en-US.
  31. Web site: 2024-05-30 . Buenos Aires trains slow to crawl as protesting conductors demand wage hike . 2024-06-14 . Yahoo News . en-CA.
  32. Web site: Senate approves reduced version of Milei's Omnibus Law amid protests and heavy repression . Peoples Dispatch.
  33. Web site: Chaos outside Congress as anti-omnibus protest turns violent Buenos Aires Times . 2024-06-14 . www.batimes.com.ar. 12 June 2024 .
  34. Web site: Debre . Isabel . 2024-06-12 . Riot police in Argentina disperse protesters with water cannons, tear gas ahead of key Senate vote . 2024-06-14 . Los Angeles Times . en-US.
  35. Web site: Photos: Argentina police battle protesters opposed to sweeping reform bill . 2024-06-14 . Al Jazeera . en.
  36. Web site: 2024-06-12 . In initial win for Argentine President Milei, senators approve his key bills after violent protests . 2024-06-14 . AP News . en.
  37. Web site: Buenos Aires rocked by clashes over President Milei reforms . 2024-06-14 . www.bbc.com . en-GB.
  38. Web site: Amid Social Protests in Argentina, the IACHR and Its Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression Highlight Inter-American Standards Concerning Respect for Human Rights, Especially the Right to Peaceful Protest and the Right to Freedom of the Press . 2024-06-14 . Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) . en.
  39. Web site: Pagola . Florencia . 2024-02-20 . Journalists find themselves in the line of fire while reporting on street demonstrations in Argentina . 2024-06-14 . LatAm Journalism Review by the Knight Center . en.
  40. Web site: 2024-04-19 . Argentina: the scramble for lithium threatens the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Jujuy . 2024-06-14 . Human Rights Law Centre . en-AU.
  41. Web site: Milei government officials slam 'coup' attempt after Congress clashes Buenos Aires Times . 2024-06-14 . www.batimes.com.ar. 13 June 2024 .
  42. Web site: Patricia Bullrich celebró el resultado del fuerte operativo para evitar cortes en la marcha piquetera y recibió el apoyo de Milei. Patricia Bullrich celebrated the result of the strong operation to prevent blockades in the piquetero march and received the support of Milei. Spanish. Matías Moreno. December 20, 2023. La Nación. November 12, 2024.
  43. Web site: Se diluye el poder de los piqueteros sin el manejo de los planes y arrinconados por denuncias: ya van 4 meses sin cortes de calles. The power of the picketers is diluted without the management of the plans and cornered by complaints: it has already been 4 months without street cuts. Spanish. Andrés Klipphan. August 27, 2024. Infobae. November 12, 2024.

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