Buenos Aires, Dec 20 (EFE).- The protest march called by social organizations on Wednesday against the economic plan of Argentina’s new president, Javier Milei, began with isolated clashes between demonstrators and federal police riot squads, who tried in vain to force the protesters to march on the sidewalk to avoid blocking traffic.
In the morning the atmosphere was calm and normal, after four in the afternoon the first incidents occurred between the gendarmerie troops and the demonstrators called by the Polo Obrero (PO) and other social and leftist organizations.
Several thousand people began marching in the heart of the city from the corner of Diagonal Norte and Avenida Belgrano toward the emblematic Plaza de Mayo, where the Casa Rosada is located.
The demonstrators marched peacefully, but did not follow the new security protocol established by Minister Patricia Bullrich, which prohibits street closures during demonstrations and provides for harsh sanctions against those who violate it.
Meanwhile, the President of Argentina, Javier Milei, along with several of his ministers, traveled to the headquarters of the Argentine Federal Police in Buenos Aires to monitor the march.
Wednesday’s demostration became the first test of strength between the new government, which took office ten days ago, and social and leftist organizations.
However, the Peronist organizations – the political force that has been in power for sixteen of the last twenty years – and its union, the powerful General Workers’ Central (CGT), did not join the protest.
«We are marching peacefully. This is a military dictatorship,» Polo Obrero leader Eduardo Belliboni told the press.
The organizers of the march complained about the treatment by the police, after the riot police pushed them with their shields to force them to march on the sidewalk.
They also denounced that the Federal Police and the Gendarmerie intervened in the city of Buenos Aires without, according to them, the request of the local authorities.
The situation led to racing and isolated clashes, but returned to normal minutes later. Local media reported the arrest of two demonstrators.
«Today marks 22 years since the popular rebellion that ended with the government of (Fernando) de la Rúa (1999-2001) and (Domingo) Cavallo (economy minister in 2001), who carried out a great devaluation, a disaster for working people,» former leftist deputy Néstor Pitrola told EFE.
«The government of (Javier) Milei, a far-right libertarian faction, debuted two days ago with a monetary devaluation of 120% of the dollar (…), a tariff increase is coming and the income of the working population, salary, retirement and social plans, are practically frozen,» denounced the former leftist parliamentarian.
Pitrola stressed that «the most important thing» about Wednesday’s mobilization is «to defeat the Bullrich protocol,» alluding to the measures announced by the Minister of Security to prevent the protests from leading to disruptions and traffic jams.
At 9:00 pm local time, President Milei will address the country on national radio and television to announce a sweeping Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) to deregulate various sectors of the economy.
Wednesday’s protests are the first to take place in Argentina since Milei’s inauguration as president just ten days ago.
Last week, Economy Minister Luis Caputo announced a series of economic adjustment measures that have been heavily criticized.
Left-wing and social organizations called on citizens to take to the streets to protest on the same day that marks another anniversary of the violent protests of 2001 that led to 39 deaths and the resignation of the then president, Fernando de la Rúa. EFE
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