BUENOS AIRES — Hundreds of thousands of Argentines poured into the streets of Buenos Aires and 14 other cities Saturday in the largest coordinated protest since President Javier Milei took office, as labour unions, student groups and opposition parties mounted a simultaneous demonstration against his recent package of emergency economic decrees that critics say will gut labour protections and privatize state assets.
The marches were largely peaceful in the capital but turned confrontational in Cordoba and Rosario where police deployed water cannon after groups attempted to breach security barriers at regional government buildings. At least 34 people were injured, none seriously, according to the health ministry. Interior Minister Guillermo Montiel said police had detained 22 protesters for property damage.
Milei addressed the nation from the Casa Rosada, calling the protests “a desperate attempt by the old political class to derail the transformation Argentina desperately needs” and vowing to press ahead with the decree package, which includes provisions to simplify dismissals, privatise the national oil company YPF and reshape the pension system. Congress is scheduled to vote on whether to ratify the decrees within 30 days, and Saturday’s turnout gives opposition lawmakers significant political cover to override them.
The peso held steady in early trading, but analysts said the protests raised the risk of further capital flight ahead of an expected IMF review of Argentina’s rescue programme. The IMF declined to comment on the domestic protests but said it was “monitoring developments closely.”.
Written by Diego Vargas, Latin America Correspondent