Argentina in turmoil: Milei’s reform bill sparks Congress protests

Protests intensify in Buenos Aires as lawmakers debate Milei’s sweeping reform bill amid police confrontations

Violence erupted outside Argentina’s Congress as police clashed with demonstrators protesting President Javier Milei’s reform bill. The confrontation, involving rubber bullets and tear gas, marked the second day of a contentious debate over the sweeping economic, social, and political package.

Thousands protested the ‘omnibus’ bill as the National Congress building in Buenos Aires became the epicenter of the tumult. TV footage captured police employing water cannons and rubber bullets against the crowd, which largely remained peaceful. Reports indicate three injuries, two arrests and at least 15 journalists, including one hit in the face, were affected by the police action.

Amid the chaos, several opposition deputies, including left-wing, Peronist, and Radical members, temporarily abandoned the session to witness and condemn the police response.

Notably, leftist legislator Myriam Bregman reported that about 40 lawmakers had pleaded with police to cease the violence. “They hurled gas at us, they hit us, they pushed us,” Bregman recounted.

The session, initially planned to conclude on Thursday, extended into the early hours, with no vote in sight. Milei, a libertarian and self-proclaimed anarcho-capitalist, faces a challenging path, as his party holds just 38 of the 257 lower chamber seats.

Opponents of the reform focused their criticism on penal code changes they claim will criminalize public protest. Alejandro Finocchiaro, a pro-reform lawmaker, accused peers who exited of attempting to delay proceedings, suggesting that the demonstrators sought repression to halt the session.

Milei’s package addresses Argentina’s deep-rooted economic issues and includes proposals on privatization, cultural matters, and sports club status. The plan to privatize the state-owned oil company YPF was dropped, but 40 other companies remain under consideration.

The debate will continue on Friday, with moderate opposition lawmakers pushing for alterations, particularly regarding executive powers in economic emergencies and the extent of privatizations.

Source: Newsroom