Protesters and police clash in Buenos Aires over Milei reforms

YEREVAN, JUNE 13, ARMENPRESS. Riot police in Argentina's capital Buenos Aires fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters outside Congress, before lawmakers gave an initial approval to budget-slashing reforms in the country's Senate on Wednesday, BBC reports.

The reform package, proposed by right-wing President Javier Milei to revive the country's flagging economy, includes declaring a state of economic emergency, cutting pensions and watering down labour rights. The measures are opposed by leftist political parties, labour unions and social organisations, the report adds.

Demonstrators - who say the measures will hurt millions of Argentines - threw petrol bombs and stones. Scuffles broke out when protesters tried to make their way towards Congress through fences, with demonstrators throwing rocks at officers who pepper sprayed them.

Observers and opposition MPs said dozens of demonstrators and a handful of MPs received medical attention. At least 20 police officers were also injured, officials said. Security forces said they arrested 15 people.

Senators voted 37 to 36 late Wednesday to give their overall approval to the bill after 11 hours of heated debate. The 328-article bill will now be surveyed point by point before it's expected full approval on Thursday. It will then return to the lower house for the final go ahead.

President Javier Milei came to office in 2023 after vowing to take a chainsaw to public spending. He has since cut the cabinet in half, slashed 50,000 public jobs, suspended new public works contracts and ripped away fuel and transport subsidies even as annual inflation approached 300%.