Calls for Resignation of Argentina’s Security Minister Amid Pensioner Protest Violence

Argentina’s security minister faces calls for resignation after police violently responded to a pensioner protest, leaving a photographer critically injured. Protests erupted over pension reductions and cuts to free medications caused by austerity measures from President Javier Milei. Calls for justice and changes in the government have intensified as social unrest grows among retirees and their supporters.

Argentina’s security minister is under significant pressure to resign following a violent response from police to a pensioner protest, which resulted in a photographer sustaining severe injuries. The protest was driven by retirees gathered near Congress, demanding increased pensions and the reinstatement of free medications, amidst austerity measures instituted by President Javier Milei. The crowd expanded significantly this week as football club fans joined the elderly demonstrators.

The atmosphere turned hostile when riot police employed teargas, rubber bullets, and water cannons against protesters, leading to chaos as officers drove motorcycles into the crowd. Graphic footage circulated on social media, displaying the distressing scenes, including an elderly woman being beaten and a photographer suffering life-threatening injuries from a teargas canister. The injured photographer, Pablo Grillo, is in critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery.

The Argentinian Graphic Reporters Association (aRGra) has made a public plea for the security minister, Patricia Bullrich, to resign, citing the severe injury of one of their own. They have condemned the violence, signaling that President Milei may be held accountable for her actions. Despite peaceful protests, violent incidents occurred, with agitators confronting law enforcement. Reports indicated over 500 injuries and more than 100 arrests amid accusations of organized violence by football fans.

Axel Kicillof, the opposition governor of Buenos Aires province, criticized the government’s “ferocious” handling of the protest, emphasizing the need to halt such authoritarian responses. Pensioners have been severely affected by Milei’s administration, with many experiencing substantial cuts to their income and medication access. Liliana Morono, a 73-year-old protester, articulated her struggle with financial constraints worsened by these policies and voiced her disillusionment with the government exhibiting hatred and division.

In response to the protests, presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni labeled the demonstration as politically motivated, while Bullrich maintained that law prevails in Argentina, rejecting the influence of “hooligans” or leftist elements.

The violence against pensioners protesting for crucial financial support has incited public outrage and demands for accountability from key government officials. Health, safety, and the rights of retirees appear compromised under the current administration, sparking significant unrest among the population. The actions of the security forces and the government’s response to this crisis will be critical in determining the political landscape in Argentina moving forward.

Original Source: www.theguardian.com