The Chief of Staff, Guillermo Francos, described the violent incidents recorded near the Congress as "a kind of coup d'état" during a demonstration that, according to the government, was convened by sectors of Kirchnerism and other opposing political movements. Francos warned that security forces will continue to repress such protests and strongly criticized the City Justice for releasing most of those detained.
"This type of demonstration, when violent, will be repressed because there is a protocol that establishes how they should develop: peacefully. We will not allow weapons to be used or damage to be caused in the City," stated the Chief of Staff. The Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, supported the actions of the forces and denied that the demonstration had a legitimate basis.
In the clashes between violent fans, activists, and police, dozens of people were injured, and significant material damage occurred in Buenos Aires. Bullrich asserted that the disturbances were "repressed appropriately" and dismissed calls to resign in light of criticism.
Of the 118 detained, 114 were released after a presentation by the Public Defender's Office to Justice, arguing that the detentions affected the right to protest. The judge in charge denied that those detained were armed or participated in vandalistic acts. Four individuals remain detained, three for possession of weapons and the fourth with an arrest warrant in Tucumán.
The protest, which was announced as a march in defense of the rights of retirees, sparked an intense debate about the limits of the right to protest and the state's reaction to disturbances. Authorities continue to work on identifying other responsible parties through audiovisual material obtained during the disturbances, while the Argentine government has denounced attempts at destabilization and opposing sectors have questioned the use of force by the authorities.
