The police formed a cordon to prevent advancement towards the Congress, while in the rear, another group of protesters, including many elderly people, were pushed back with jets from water cannons in the perimeter closest to the Legislative. The National Security Minister of Argentina, Patricia Bullrich, announced that with the new anti-mafia law, more than 100 detainees will face sentences of up to 20 years in prison, linking them to criminal organizations.
Past midnight, a concentration of around 500 people occurred for a pot-banging protest in front of the Casa Rosada in reaction to the repression of the protest. Among the protesters, one person expressed: "I don't have my grandparents, I don't have my parents, but if there is something they left me, it is the spirit of struggle against injustice." On the other hand, in Buenos Aires, the Elderly Advocacy Office reported that the cost of the basic basket for an elderly adult is more than double what they receive monthly.
The protest by retirees, backed by hundreds of football fans from different teams, left its mark on the streets of Buenos Aires after clashes with security forces in front of Congress, resulting in 124 detainees and at least 46 injured, according to authorities. The retirees, who gather weekly to protest against the government cuts of Javier Milei, were this time accompanied by an unusual call from fans of Boca Juniors, River Plate, and other football teams.
José Montes, a 75-year-old retiree who participated in the demonstration in a wheelchair and wearing a River Plate shirt, declared: "We retirees are experiencing the worst attack on social conquests. It was not even this bad with Macri." The unrest escalated and security forces relocated the protesters to another area of the city after initially trying to contain them.
The Milei government, which promotes public spending cuts, had warned that those who caused disturbances would face restrictions on entering stadiums. The violent altercations began with the arrival of a large group of Boca Juniors fans and others, followed by clashes with the police. Later, it was reported that 124 people were detained and 46 injured, 20 of them protesters.
A man with the Argentine flag as a cape held up a sign asking for help in the struggle. There were several injuries, including an agent with a gunshot wound, and a photographer in serious condition after being hit in the head by a tear gas capsule. Security forces found themselves surrounded when the gathering, which began peacefully, turned violent. Along with the retirees and football fans, labor unions and officials affected by the cuts joined the protest.
In summary, Argentine retirees are facing cuts in their income and the health system, leading to massive and violent protests in the streets of Buenos Aires. Tension has intensified among the protesters, security forces, and supporters from various sectors, reflecting widespread discontent with the governmental policies implemented in the country.
