Estela de Carlotto, president of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, drew a parallel with the past dictatorship and stated: "We see the retirees, how they are being beaten," referring to the repressive incidents recorded during protests against the pension reforms promoted by the national government.
Since the beginning of the current term, the head of the Grandmothers has been denouncing the lack of state funding for memory, truth, and justice programs, and has described this situation as an "unpaid debt" from the state to human rights organizations.
The Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo confirmed that on March 24, they will hold a commemorative vigil on the 50th anniversary of the 1976 coup, amidst growing concern about the direction of human rights policies in the country.
Carlotto expressed harsh criticism of President Javier Milei, whom she described as a "monster," and denounced that in today's Argentina, there is a "dirty democracy," marked by inequality, impunity, and fear.
"We have democracy, but we are fighting because this is a dirty democracy where anything goes, money is directed where the 'privileged' want it, and the people are impoverished," said the 94-year-old Carlotto.
Carlotto stated: "This man, whom I don't consider a president, but a monster, because he calmly commits crimes that go unpunished and is destroying our country morally and economically."
The human rights leader also questioned the social and political context that made Milei's re-election possible in the October legislative elections.
"The president was elected for a second time: something is wrong," she pointed out.
And she added: "Perhaps we were not prepared to give explanations so that people understand what they have to do... there are other good people... but there is fear, and that paralyzes you and tells you 'don't get involved, be careful.'"
