Tensions between the Argentine government and social groups reached a boiling point after a violent crackdown on retirees protesting for better pensions on March 12. Demonstrators, who have rallied every Wednesday for weeks, claim that the neoliberal policies of President Javier Milei’s government have severely impacted their livelihoods. The protests saw heavy participation from unions, political groups, and football fan clubs in support of pensioners demanding increases in their monthly stipends and the restoration of medical benefits.
The government’s response, led by Secretary of Security Patricia Bullrich, was swift and brutal. Police arrested over a hundred people and injured dozens, including journalist Pablo Grillo, who remains in critical condition after being struck in the head by a security force’s gas projectile. Luciana Lavila, a journalist for Barricada TV, condemned the government’s heavy-handed tactics, stating, “We had a clear view of how Javier Milei’s government responds to a genuine and fair mobilization.”
Following the events, Bullrich filed criminal charges against the demonstrators, accusing them of sedition and attacking the constitutional order. This included high-profile targets such as Leandro Capriotti, a soccer fan leader, and political figures like former Montoneros leader Mario Firmenich. Bullrich even targeted two opposition mayors for allegedly supporting the protest. These moves have been met with widespread criticism, especially from political and social groups who view the charges as politically motivated.
A judge, Karina Andrade, intervened by ordering the release of nearly 100 detainees, asserting that their constitutional right to protest had been violated. The judge cited procedural issues, including the lack of proper documentation for the detentions. However, Bullrich has threatened legal action against Andrade for releasing the detainees without verifying background checks.
Amidst these developments, several unions, including SIPREBA (Press Union of Buenos Aires) and FATPREN (Argentine Federation of Press Workers), have condemned the government’s actions, demanding Bullrich’s resignation. In a statement, SIPREBA denounced the violence against both protesters and journalists, calling it part of a growing climate of repression under Milei’s government.
Beatriz Blanco, a pensioner who was injured during the protest, has filed a criminal complaint against Bullrich, accusing her of complicity in the violence. Blanco was pushed by police, falling and suffering a head injury in the process. Other journalists, like Lavila, have highlighted the increasing dangers faced by the press in Argentina, with reporters routinely targeted during protests.
Despite the violence, the protest movement has gained momentum, with many seeing the crackdown as a turning point. Lavila remarked, “This could become a historic moment in Argentina’s political landscape, possibly sparking even larger mobilizations next week.”
The events have ignited a larger conversation about the increasing tension between the Argentine government and its citizens, with many fearing that the suppression of protests and free speech under Milei’s administration is only intensifying.
ARGENTINA RETIREES PROTESTERS PIC BY AP VIA FMT
