There have been violent clashes in Buenos Aires outside the Congress building, where senators narrowly approved President Javier Milei’s controversial economic reform package. Footage captured police using tear gas and a water cannon, with protesters throwing petrol bombs and stones. Mr Milei, a self-styled libertarian, was elected with close to 56% of the vote last year, promising drastic measures to address the country’s spiralling inflation and poverty rates. However, his party has no majority in Congress. His initial bill, containing privatisation plans and other economic measures, failed to pass a second reading in February. The package approved on Wednesday was a streamlined version of that bill, and includes cutting pensions and watering down labour rights. Critics argue that the measures will hurt millions of Argentines. The reform will now be closely surveyed before its expected full approval on Thursday. It will then return to the lower house.
- Economic record: President Milei has been in power for six months – Robert Plummer looks into whether he’s keeping his election promises.
- In his own words: Last month, Ione Wells confronted President Milei on the state of poverty in the country.
- Listen to this: Economist Monica de Bolle, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, examines whether Mr Milei’s measures have contributed to a fall in inflation.
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