A march by pensioners in Buenos Aires was violently repressed by police on Wednesday as they protested against President Javier Milei's veto of a bill aimed at modifying the formula for pension adjustments. The gathering took place in front of the National Congress, where pensioners were preparing to march toward Plaza de Mayo, the seat of the Executive.
The bill, which was approved by the Senate last week, proposed a new monthly adjustment formula for pensions that combined the inflation rate with the average variation in formal salaries, in addition to an extraordinary adjustment of 8.1%. However, President Milei chose to veto the legislation, arguing that it would lead to an expenditure of 1.2% of GDP and would be incompatible with his economic adjustment plan.
Some pensioners, accompanied by demonstrators from various social and political organizations, partially blocked Avenida Rivadavia on their way to Plaza de Mayo. In response to the protesters' refusal to return to the sidewalk, the police intervened violently, using pepper spray and attacking several individuals with batons. The repression also affected journalists present in the coverage of the event.
Despite the police intervention, the march continued with around 2,500 participants, who demanded the defense of their rights and a fair adjustment to their pensions. With an inflation rate that has reached 263.4% year-on-year, the situation for pensioners in Argentina is critical, with 65% of them receiving the minimum amount and emergency supplements that barely reach $305 per month.
The government announced that, despite the veto, a 4% adjustment will be implemented by decree in September, raising the minimum pension to $314. This situation unfolds in a context of increasing social tension in the country, where adjustment policies have led to a significant deterioration in the living conditions of pensioners.