Buenos Aires: Retirees marched in Buenos Aires Wednesday, in protest against Argentine President Javier Milei’s planned veto of a bill passed last week by Congress to raise the minimum pension.
Police used batons and pepper spray on demonstrators trying to block a road.
Last week, Argentina’s senate approved a law to increase retirement benefits by more than 8%.
The country’s ultra-conservative, self-described libertarian president has threatened to veto the measure which he has described as “irresponsible” and “exorbitant”.
Because Milei’s libertarian party controls less than 15% of Congress — and just seven of the Senate’s 72 seats — the populist outsider has largely relied on sweeping executive decrees to implement a tough austerity program, slashing public spending and deregulating Argentina’s economy.
“They are taking the will to live from people who have worked all their lives,” said Elsa Lasarre, a retired teacher. “They can’t eat what they want. The cost of electricity has increased, I don’t know how a lot of people live. Many people are in need, which is hard to believe in a country like ours.”
Although the government has managed to slow down the rise in prices, the increase in the cost of living in July was 4% and accumulated inflation in the first seven months of the year reached 87%.
Interannual inflation is around 263.4% at a time when the minimum monthly retirement is about 225,000 pesos (233 dollars) and a basic basket of food, medicine and other goods and services for an adult exceeds 291,000 pesos (301 dollars).
Argentine Retirees Take to Streets as President Mulls Veto on Pension Hike world-news World News | Latest International News | Global World News | World News Today
