Dozens injured in Argentina pension protests as Congress fails to vote
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Protests erupted in Buenos Aires as Argentina's Congress failed to vote on pension increases. Demonstrators, including retirees, clashed with police amid Javier Milei's austerity push.
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Protesters clash with gendarmes during a weekly demonstration demanding better pensions for retirees, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (AP)
Dozens of people were injured during protests outside Argentina’s Congress on Wednesday, as elderly citizens and activists gathered to demand higher pensions. The demonstration turned violent as security forces used riot shields and batons to disperse the crowd in Buenos Aires, according to Reuters witnesses.
TV footage showed elderly protesters and social groups chanting and singing while facing off with heavily armed police. The rally coincided with a Congressional session that failed to reach quorum on key pension legislation.
The protest unfolded as lawmakers attempted, but failed, to deliberate on proposals for pension increases and the continuation of retirement benefits. A total of 124 deputies were present, while 133 were absent, preventing a vote on the measures.
🗣️"Anda a Malvinas", el grito de los manifestantes a la gendarmería, mientras les tiran gases lacrimógenos pic.twitter.com/LueOQ11eF7
— El Destape (@eldestapeweb) May 21, 2025
The government of libertarian President Javier Milei has launched an aggressive austerity campaign aimed at curbing inflation and stabilizing the economy. These measures include slashing public spending, which has significantly affected pensions and other social programs.
Milei’s policies have triggered weekly protests in the capital. Workers’ unions, retirees, and even football fans have joined forces to decry the reduction of benefits amid soaring consumer prices.
Public spending cuts, high inflation fuel unrest
"This place, the home of democracy, cannot remain indifferent when a pensioner is earning 379,000 pesos (about $331 a month)," said Paula Oliveto, a lawmaker from the center Civic Coalition party, during the Congressional session.
Socialist Party representative Esteban Paulon condemned the lack of quorum and accused pro-government lawmakers of celebrating their failure. “The government's plan is evidently to kill millions of people collecting minimum wage through hunger,” he said.
The administration defends its policies, arguing that Argentina’s limited financial resources must be prioritized for long-term economic recovery, and officials maintain that investment and growth must precede any pension increases.
Despite these measures, economic hardship remains widespread. Approximately 38% of Argentines, equivalent to 11.3 million people, were living in poverty during the second half of last year, according to government data.
In March, Argentine police engaged in violent clashes with football fans and anti-austerity protesters during a regular pensioners' protest in Buenos Aires.
Riot officers deployed tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse demonstrators who threw stones, resulting in dozens of injuries and over 100 arrests, according to city officials.
Many participants were wearing football jerseys, and the protest became one of the most intense demonstrations against Milei’s budget cuts. Protesters chanted, “Milei, garbage, you are the dictatorship!”, drawing comparisons between his governance and Argentina’s 1976-1983 military dictatorship.
Riot police, both on foot and on motorcycles, battled protesters for over two hours, clearing the central avenue where demonstrators hurled firecrackers, stun grenades, and stones from broken sidewalks. A patrol car and garbage bins were set ablaze, and several streets were barricaded with debris.
