San Salvador (AFP)
A week before the entry into force of bitcoin as legal tender in El Salvador, several hundred people demonstrated in the capital on Wednesday to ask Parliament to repeal the law, AFP journalists noted.
About 300 union activists gathered outside Parliament buildings holding up signs and chanting 'No to bitcoin'.
"With only six days (September 7) of the hateful bitcoin law going into effect, the Popular Resistance and Rebellion Bloc (BRP) is demanding its repeal because it will hit workers, peasants and rural communities," according to a press release from this platform of fifteen unions and organizations opposed to bitcoin.
For Sonia Urrutia, a BRP activist, President Nayib Bukele is preparing Salvadorians "a bitter month of September" with the bitcoin law with which "he wants to impose a high-risk virtual monetary system for 99% of the population".
The BRP has announced its intention to organize daily protests.
The Salvadoran parliament, overwhelmingly dominated by supporters of President Bukele since the last legislative elections, passed the law last June that will make bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador.
Demonstration against the entry into force of bitcoin as legal tender, September 1, 2021 in San Salvador MARVIN RECINOS AFP
This measure, according to the Head of State, will boost the country's economy, dollarized for twenty years.
Continuing to implement the reform, Parliament approved on Tuesday, at the request of President Bukele, who enjoys immense popularity, the creation of a $ 150 million fund to guarantee the automatic convertibility of bitcoin into U.S. dollars.
The authorities are preparing to activate an application called "Chivo" (Super, in colloquial language) which should allow payments or transfers in bitcoin.
Its users will be rewarded with a bonus equivalent to $ 30 in bitcoin when they join the application.
In addition, 200 vending machines for exchanging bitcoin are being installed.
A shop accepting payment in bitcoin, September 1, 2021 in San Salvador MARVIN RECINOS AFP
While the military protected ATMs on Wednesday from possible damage by protesters, a famous anti-bitcoin activist, Mario Gomez, was arrested before being released in the face of a deluge of criticism on social networks.
According to a tweet from the Salvadoran police, Mr. Gomez is suspected of "financial fraud" by "sending false e-mails to many users of the banking system".
© 2021 AFP