Argentina Police, Protesters Clash; Tear Gas, Molotov Cocktails, Water Cannons Fired

As lawmakers were about to vote on tax bills proposed by Argentina President Javier Milei, thousands of protesters descended on Congress, where they clashed with police. While the police hit the protesters with water cannons and tear gas, protesters hit back with stones and Molotov cocktails being thrown.

Lawmakers were debating whether or not to approve economic reforms proposed by Milei, whose reforms to stabilize the ailing Argentina economy may be slowly stabilizing it, but it is also raising prices and placing more people into poverty.

According to Yahoo! News, the scuffles between these protesters and Argentina police began when protesters tried to bypass a system of fences that were placed between them and Congress. This resulted in the protesters hurling stones at police, who fired back with pepper spray.

However, the violence only escalated as the protesters burned down two cars while police deployed their water cannons to hose them down. The violence resulted in not just two burned cars but dozens of demonstrators and a handful of lawmakers needing some medical attention. At least five opposition lawmakers in the crowd were "hospitalized," one legislator stated.

The Association Against Institutional Violence, a non-governmental organization, stated that the clash between the protesters and the police resulted in at least 40 people being treated by emergency personnel. Meanwhile, opposition legislator Cecilia Moreau called the police's actions as "repression."

Milei only has a minority in both houses of Congress, and he has had little to no success in getting any legislation passed. However, with the help of executive decrees, he was able to make several austerity measures that have proven unpopular with everyday Argentinians.

Debate on Argentina Economic Reforms Continued While Protesters Clashed with Police Outside

Inside the National Congress of Argentina, meanwhile, lawmakers were debating as police and protesters were clashing outside. Opposition senators tried to pass a motion to pause the debate because of the clashes, with the motion escalating to a shouting match. In the end, the motion failed as the debate continued.

The debates began Wednesday regarding Milei's tax package that would lower the income tax threshold among other budget-cutting reforms. It also grants legislative powers to the president in energy, pensions, and security, according to the Associated Press, The 238-article state reform bill also seeks to incentivize investment, deregulate the economy, and trim the deficit.

Many in Argentina are afraid that the bill might force them to lose many of their labor and pension rights, with Milei already cutting the budget for education and research, among other things.

Milei's allies have severely trimmed down the bill, even scrapping some provisions that would have affected unions' provision of health care and the privatization of Argentina's national oil company. Still, debates go on regarding the bill.

Javier Milei Reforms Have Made Protests a Regular Thing in Argentina

Milei's stiff budget cuts have affected many, with protests erupting in Argentina left and right as the increasing prices bite in. These include massive protests last April, which demanded that President Javier Milei increase funding for public universities.

According to CNN, that protest was organized by students, alumni, unions, and political parties in opposition to Milei's "chainsaw" budget cuts. It did not, however, become violent as this recent one did. Scientists also previously protested Milei's budget cuts.

READ MORE: Viggo Mortensen, Lord of the Rings Actor, Slams Argentina President Javier Milei, Calls Him a Clown

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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