Argentina paralyzed by a new general strike against the policies of Javier Milei

Argentina experienced a new day of general strike, Thursday May 9, the second since Javier Milei came to power five months ago. The three largest Argentine unions, including the CGT, massively participated in this show of force. The country was paralyzed, without transport, without shops and without public services to protest against layoffs in the civil service and the loss of purchasing power.

A Thursday that looked like a Sunday in the streets of Buenos Aires: no buses, small businesses with their iron curtains lowered, post offices, banks and schools closed. Hector Daer, general secretary of the CGT, welcomed this at a press conference on Thursday: “We went on strike because the adjustment weighs on retirees, on the most vulnerable sectors. This measure was a success and this must attract the attention of the authorities, who should change direction to rectify the social deterioration of these last months.”

A next mobilization announced for the end of the month

For Manuel Adorni, the government spokesperson, this strike harms workers. “It is a clearly political strike, incomprehensible and senseless, because many people live in poverty and need to go to work every day to be able to eat. The unions have therefore betrayed the workers who wanted to go to their jobs but who could not. It is an attack against their daily economy and against their freedom. he believes.

Since Milei’s arrival, 15,000 civil servants have been laid off, more than 1,000 public worksites have been interrupted and inflation is 55% for 2024 alone. But the president, with his 50% positive image, intends to continue its adjustment. The CGT is already planning a new mobilization for the end of the month.