Clashes Erupt Outside Argentine Congress After Pension Hike Blocked, Reports Reuters

BUENOS AIRES – Protesters in Argentina clashed with police outside the Congress building on Wednesday after lawmakers in the lower house voted against a proposed pension increase that had drawn criticism from President Javier Milei, a right-wing libertarian.

The chamber of deputies recorded a 153 to 87 vote in favor of the pension hike, failing to secure the two-thirds majority required for approval. President Milei had previously vetoed the proposal, arguing that it jeopardized the country’s efforts to achieve fiscal stability.

As news of the vote spread, hundreds of demonstrators in central Buenos Aires broke through police barriers, resulting in confrontations with security forces equipped with riot gear.

The Argentine government is implementing a stringent austerity package aimed at reducing years of fiscal deficits and managing soaring inflation. While these measures have improved state finances, they have adversely affected the real economy and increased poverty levels among the population.