In the standoff with some elected officials and the anger of a section of the population, the ultra-liberal Argentine president has just scored a point. Javier Milei has thus been comforted by the deputies who have supported him in his desire not to grant a catch-up of pensions, which have nevertheless been severely affected by his austerity policy.
Only 153 out of 248 deputies voted in favor of the Senate text that wanted a revaluation of pensions. An insufficient number since a two-thirds majority was needed to override the presidential veto. This victory for the Argentine president was obtained mainly thanks to the rallying of elected representatives from the moderate opposition (center and center right). On the social network X, Javier Milei did not fail to thank them, saluting “heroes who put a stop to the budgetary degenerates who tried to destroy the budgetary balance that the Argentines made so much effort to achieve.”
Support from elected officials from the center and center-right
The text, which will not pass, provided for a catch-up of 8.1% – the minimum pension in Argentina is 225,454 pesos (230 dollars) -, independently of the future pension system, which will now be indexed to inflation. Its adoption by the Senate had provoked the anger of the Argentine president who had virulently opposed this boost, believing that its implementation would jeopardize his promise to reduce the budget deficit that he considers the main cause of the country’s recurring economic crises.
The 2025 budget proposal will be unveiled on Sunday. Javier Milei plans to address Parliament on this occasion. This is an unusual practice, as his predecessors have generally not spoken on this occasion.
Protests and clashes during voting
Outside the Parliament, security forces, deployed in large numbers, had prepared for a new, sustained and risky demonstration, called by unions and social movements close to the Peronist opposition or the radical left. This demonstration, less massive than anticipated, gave rise to clashes. Sporadic clashes took place late Wednesday afternoon with small groups of demonstrators, and the police used tear gas and plastic bullets.
Several media outlets reported 12 injured, three of whom were hospitalized according to the newspaper “La Nacion”. In addition, at least three people were arrested for rebellion. In April, hundreds of thousands of people mobilized to defend the public university, leading the government to partially backtrack on funding.
