Thousands of Argentines demonstrate in Buenos Aires to demand higher wages
Thousands of Argentines demonstrated in Buenos Aires on Wednesday on the eve of the release of official inflation figures for July, which is expected to reveal a further weakening of their purchasing power.
At the invitation of leftist organizations more radical than the left-wing government led by Alberto Fernandez, the demonstrators streamed without incident, towards the Plaza de Mayo, the presidential residence, and the Ministry of Economy in an adjacent street.
As night fell, tents were set up in the square and small barbecues were held with music, by protesters who had been demanding a meeting with the new Economy Minister Sergio Massa for a week.
Radical left organizations view the government's social measures as limited and aimed only at reassuring financial markets and not at alleviating the inflationary shock to the disadvantaged.
Among her demands is a significant increase in the minimum wage from 45,540 pesos ($325) at the official exchange rate to 105,000 pesos ($744), the estimated value of a food basket for a family of four to stay above the poverty line.
They are also demanding a bonus of 20,000 pesos ($143) for retirees, at-risk small business owners and precarious workers.
Eduardo Bipponi, leader of the "Working Pole" (Polo Obrero), one of the main organizations at the event, said that the Minister of Economy "goed to the markets, to the economic forces but gave no response to the popular sectors on how to mitigate an endless process of inflation."
This gathering came after similar movements in recent weeks, on the eve of the publication of the inflation index figures for the month of July, which, according to estimates by a number of economists, may reach about 7 percent, which is the highest this year.
July was a hectic month for the Argentine economy known for its instability, with the sudden resignation of the Minister of Economy appointed two years ago, Martin Guzman, the appointment of Silvina Patakis as his successor for a short period, and the government's failed efforts so far to reduce inflation, which reached 36.2 percent in the first half of the year. and 64 percent in 12 months.
On Wednesday, Massa announced a 15.53 percent increase in pensions and family benefits, despite the budgetary goal that Argentina committed to as part of its March agreement with the International Monetary Fund to refinance its debt.
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