In response to the recent protests against Argentina’s economic reforms led by President Javier Milei, the new government has declared that organisers of the demonstrations will be held financially accountable for the associated security costs.
The security expenses, totaling 60 million pesos, will be invoiced to the social movements responsible for orchestrating the protests, according to a government spokesman. Thousands of demonstrators had taken to the streets in Buenos Aires to express their opposition to President Milei’s “economic shock therapy,” which includes significant spending cuts.
Over a dozen social organisations involved in the protests will be required to cover the security costs, encompassing factors such as fuel consumption and average man-hours, reflecting the heavy police presence during the demonstrations. Government spokesman Manuel Adorni emphasized that these groups should bear the financial responsibility, sparing citizens from shouldering the burden.
Organisers had previously criticized the extensive security measures, viewing them as a deliberate attempt to provoke unrest, with some likening the situation to the repressive tactics of the 1970s and 1980s dictatorship.
President Milei, who assumed office less than two weeks ago, has adopted a firm stance against groups aiming to obstruct his reform agenda through disruptive protests.
The government’s reform initiatives include the privatization of state-owned companies and substantial cuts to public spending, such as reductions in fuel and transport subsidies.
Additionally, last week witnessed a more than 50% devaluation of Argentina’s currency, the peso, against the US dollar.
While these measures have garnered praise from the International Monetary Fund, which holds a $44 billion debt owed by Argentina, they have sparked discontent among citizens grappling with soaring inflation, high government debt, and significant poverty rates. Approximately 40% of the population currently resides below the poverty line, underscoring the multifaceted challenges facing the nation.
The International Monetary Fund called Milei’s reforms “bold” and said “they would help create the environment for private sector growth”.
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