Aerial view of fires during protests outside the National Congress in Buenos Aires on June 12, 2024.
Thomas Cuesta | AFP | Getty Images
Argentina’s Senate narrowly passed President Javier Milley’s sweeping economic reform bill, giving the right-wing leader a temporary legislative victory despite clashes between protesters and riot police.
Members of Argentina’s upper house approved the bill in a 37-36 vote on Wednesday after a marathon debate, with Vice President and Senate President Victoria Villarruel casting the deciding vote in support of Milley’s economy measure.
The bill, which was initially backed by the House of Commons in April, will be studied on a case-by-case basis before full approval is expected on Thursday.
The reform bill is a core tenet of Mr Milley’s push to revive the country’s crisis-ridden economy. Among other issues, the bill seeks to privatize some of the country’s state-owned entities, offer generous incentive packages to foreign investors and water down labor rights.
Photos released by Getty Images showed riot police using water cannon to disperse protesters and a car being set on fire during the demonstration.
The Buenos Aires Times reported that while many protesters demonstrated peacefully, riot police used tear gas and at least 18 people were arrested.
“There are two Argentines today,” Argentina’s vice president said, according to Reuters.
“One violent Argentina, where cars are set on fire, rocks are thrown, and the exercise of democracy is debated, and another Argentina, where workers wait in pain and sacrifice for the changes they voted for,” Villaruel said.
On June 12, 2024, Argentina’s Vice President Victoria Villarruel voted to break opposition to the far right during a meeting of the National Assembly in Buenos Aires marked by strikes and demonstrations. A tie vote on a key reform package for President Javier Milei.
Thomas Cuesta | AFP | Getty Images
Left-wing parties and trade unions strongly opposed Milley’s economic agenda.
In early May, Milley’s government faced its second general strike in less than six months, with workers across the country angry over proposed austerity measures and a severe economic crisis.
The liberal leader, who won a presidential runoff late last year, said there was no alternative to what he called “shock therapy” to correct the situation.
