Many people sustained injuries during demonstrations in Argentina.
In Argentina, there have been numerous casualties during protests against the radical economic reforms of conservative President Javier Milei. Arguments broke out between government adversaries and law enforcement near the Congress in Buenos Aires. Cops deployed tear gas and water cannons.
The protesters torched at least two vehicles. On Thursday morning, the Senate then endorsed Milei's reform package, which still must be approved by the House of Representatives. On Wednesday, clashes started when protesters attempted to reach the Congress edifice, which was enclosed by fences. The protesters threw stones at the law enforcement. Law enforcement employed pepper spray. That night, police with riot gear and on motorcycles drove off the crowd.
The Health Ministry stated that seven demonstrators, including five opposition legislators, were treated at hospitals following the use of pepper spray. According to the NGO Association Against Institutional Violence, many more were treated on site.
An official from the Security Ministry indicated that nine policemen were also injured and ten arrests were made. Milei's office described the protesters in the online service X as "terrorist groups" who "attempted to instigate a coup with sticks, stones, and even grenades."
While senators were debating Milei's controversial reform package in the Congress, the "anarcho-capitalist" aims to declare a "state of economic emergency," permitting the dissolution of agencies and the privatization of state-run enterprises. Moreover, Milei intends to reduce the minimum pension and roll back labor rights.
In the late evening, the Senate decided, in theory, for the reform package. Then, senators authorized the passage of all 238 articles of the legislative initiative. The Presidency praised this as a "historic" moment for the "most extensive legislative reform in 40 years."
