Political tension in Argentina is rising with mutual accusations between the government, the opposition, and social leaders. Last week, Judge Karina Andrade of Court No. 15 in Buenos Aires decided to release 114 protesters detained during a pensioners' protest in front of Congress, which generated controversy and will lead the national government to file a criminal complaint against her next Monday.
Polls show significant drops in the President's image, although there are hopes that he could recover if he successfully manages the situation. The government seems to be betting on hardening its rhetoric and reinforcing security operations while trying to discredit the opposition sectors that join the protests.
The Ministry of Security filed a criminal complaint seeking investigations into an "aggravated illicit association" behind the disturbances, with Minister Patricia Bullrich leading the accusations against Judge Andrade. For her part, Andrade defended her decision arguing the lack of information provided by the authorities to justify the detentions and pointing out logistical issues in housing the detainees.
The government accuses leaders of promoting and funding the protest to create chaos, while some sectors of the opposition and social movements plan to participate in future marches. Amid the controversy, a reinforced operation is prepared for the next pensioners' protest, and measures are being studied to restrict social benefits for participants in mobilizations.
The political context is causing divisions within the government about how to handle the growing social tension, with conflicting opinions on the management of mobilizations and the government's responses. The next march will be an important test for the executive branch, which must ensure security and minimize the political impact of protests in a polarized climate.
The situation remains delicate, and measures to prevent incidents in future demonstrations are key to avoiding an escalation of tensions. The government will work on a more organized operation and a more efficient handling of the situation is expected in the next march.
