the new president, Javier Milei, faces his first challenge and a general strike

The immense Parliament Square in Buenos Aires filled over the hours with thousands of demonstrators, as in other cities.

This is the first general strike and major protest for Javier Milei, after only a month and a half in power. Tens of thousands of Argentines demonstrated on Wednesday January 24 against the austerity reforms of the ultraliberal Argentine president. In the capital, Buenos Aires, transport, shops and banks operated normally in the morning. The strike was scheduled to last from noon to midnight, but transport was scheduled to run until 7 p.m., transporting protesters back and forth, before a total shutdown until midnight. Air traffic was affected early on.

The immense Parliament Square in Buenos Aires filled over the hours with thousands of demonstrators, at the call of the trade union giant CGT (7 million affiliates claimed), a pro-Peronist center (close to the previous government). ), which was joined by other unions, radical left movements and social organizations. In the provinces, in Cordoba, Corrientes, La Rioja, Tucuman, among others, the Argentine media reported demonstrations drawing thousands of people.

“Eating is not a privilege”

After a month and a half of presidency, an avalanche of deregulatory bills, a 54% devaluation and actual or planned austerity measures, “we come to defend 40 years of democracy, to defend the homeland”, CGT co-leader Hector Daer told the crowd. “Walking around with a chainsaw is one thing, governing is another.” which requires “to show moderation”he said, targeting the head of state. “The homeland is not for sale”, “Here, there is no caste!”, “Eating is not a privilege”proclaimed banners and signs against a background of firecrackers and bass drums, under the gaze of a giant puppet bearing the likeness of Javier Milei.

In Paris, some 200 people gathered in solidarity with Argentina. “Argentine workers face a government of rare cruelty.”declared to AFP the Franco-Uruguayan Nara Cladera, of the French union Solidaires, She fears a heavy “repression” Argentine authorities against the strikers. However, in Buenos Aires, no clashes were reported after three hours of gathering and while the crowd slowly began to disperse in Parliament Square.