Reforms in Argentina: violence in front of Parliament, completely barricaded by the police
In Argentina, violence broke out for the second evening in a row in front of Parliament, this Thursday, February 1. While MPs were examining Javier Milei's deregulatory reforms, clashes took place between the police and demonstrators who had come to protest at the call of left-wing organizations.
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Anti-government protesters charge police deployed outside Congress where lawmakers are debating a bill promoted by Argentine President Javier Milei, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, February 1, 2024. © Natacha Pisarenko / AP
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With our correspondent in Buenos Aires,
Théo Conscience
The day after a first laborious twelve-hour session,
Argentine parliamentarians examined for the second consecutive day
Javier Milei
's vast and controversial reform package
, which affects many aspects of the economy, public and private spheres.
In front of the Congress, which is entirely barricaded behind riot barriers, thousands of demonstrators face an imposing police force. In accordance with the new anti-blockade protocol from the Minister of Security, the police decide to clear the road occupied by the demonstrators. A column of police in riot gear advances, clicking their boots as they jeer. The engines of the motorized brigade roar, and the police advance, shield in hand, to disperse the demonstrators with batons and tear gas.
"
Homeless
"
“
We are a group of organized neighbors, students, retirees, workers, and we are against the setback represented by Javier Milei's measures and economic plan
,” explains this Argentinian. With a puffy face and red eyes, Emiliano regains his senses on the sidelines after being given gas. “
This
austerity policy
will put us all on the street, it will leave us without public education, without public health, it will let retirees die of hunger, like in 2001
,” he continues.
The motorized brigade continues to disperse the demonstrators by firing rubber bullets. Inside Parliament, opposition deputies asked in vain for the session to be suspended and left the chamber to denounce police repression. Returning to the hemicycle, they did not obtain an adjournment of the debate, which continued late into the evening.
“
Dangerous repressive advance fueled by the executive
”
The day before, a demonstration of several thousand people, mostly calm during the day, had gotten out of hand in the evening. The police had already used tear gas, dispersing a few dozen demonstrators. Six people were arrested, all released on Thursday, in what the moderate opposition party UCR (center-right) described as “
a dangerous repressive advance fueled by the executive
”. A ruling party MP reported that a police officer was lightly injured on Wednesday.
The deputies were to resume the debate this Friday morning, with a view to a first vote on the principle of the law, before examining the articles in detail.
(
And with
AFP)
Also listen NEWS WITNESSES – Do the Argentinians already regret having elected Javier Milei?
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