Buenos Aires, Feb 2 (EFE). – Almost an hour and a half after the ‘Omnibus Law’ in the Argentine Chamber of Deputies on Friday was approved, new clashes broke out between demonstrators and security forces.
On Wednesday and Thursday, during the congressional debate, the demonstrators tried to block the streets – a limit set by the “anti-picketing” protocol of the Ministry of Security – which led the agents of the different federal forces to react harshly.
Pepper spray, rubber bullets, and hydrant trucks were used against the demonstrators, some of whom threw bottles at the motorized troops.
Meanwhile, other protesters, many with their faces covered with scarves, broke through the pavement to throw cobblestones and sticks at the police.
They also set fire to a garbage can and a discarded mattress, forcing firefighters to be called in.
After the general approval of the law in the Chamber of Deputies, the demonstrators defied the security protocol by cutting off the avenue adjacent to Congress.
The police forced them to clear the street and they remained in the square clapping to protest the approval of the law.
The “Omnibus Law,” the star project of Javier Milei’s executive, was approved with 144 votes in favor and 109 against.
On Tuesday, the remaining 382 articles, a little more than half of the original text (664), will be voted on.
If the articles are approved, the law will be sent to the Senate for revision.
During the three days of debate, there were repeated tensions between the demonstrators and the security agents.
The deployed forces acted according to the strict guidelines of the security protocol implemented by the Milei government, detaining people and using rubber bullets, hydrant trucks, and pepper spray against the demonstrators.
The police action was widely criticized by the left, Peronism, and independent organizations such as the Ombudsman’s Office of the City of Buenos Aires, which requested an investigation into the possible commission of crimes by the security forces. EFE
vd/mcd
