Anger in Argentina over ultra-liberal Millay's policies – Thousands on the streets against massive 'deregulation'

Thousands of citizens demonstrated yesterday Wednesday in Buenos Aires, where there were clashes with police and arrests, as part of the third mass mobilization in eight days against a decree promoting massive economic deregulation measures, which he wants the new extreme liberal president Javier Millais.

The president, who was elected last month, is continuing what he calls a “liberal revolution” sending to the parliament, in an extraordinary session from the day before Tuesday until the end of January, a raft of laws and amendments to laws concerning countless fields of public and private life, tax issues, electoral issues, cases of inheritance, control of demonstrations…

In front of the courthouse yesterday protesters, at the call of trade unions, including the major CGT confederation, accompanied the appeal by labor unions questioning the constitutionality of the December 20 “mega-decree”, as the press christened it.

“We do not question the legitimacy of President Miley, but we want him to respect the separation of powers. Workers need to defend their rights when there is a question of unconstitutionality,” Gerardo Martines, head of the construction workers' union, told the press.

The rally broke up in a calm atmosphere in the afternoon, but small groups clashed with police officers – a strong police force had been deployed – who tried to open a boulevard. Seven people accused of “mutiny” were arrested, according to media.

Mr Miley last week, ten days after taking office, issued a decree of “necessary and urgent” measures, which aims to amend more than 300 provisions – among other things, the ceiling on rents, the price limits on basic necessities are abolished, measures to protect workers are weakened, privatizations are facilitated, etc.

The decree will enter into force tomorrow Friday, in view of its ratification by the parliament, which is not expected to consider it immediately, as reported by the Agence France-Presse and relayed by the Athenian Agency. Theoretically on summer vacation, the parliament has been in an extraordinary session since yesterday Tuesday, but only to examine additional draft laws, complementary to the decree in question, which were submitted yesterday.

The national delegation theoretically has the possibility to repeal the presidential decree, but for this it would require an absolute majority (two-thirds) in both of its bodies, something that no political faction has. Miley's party, Libertad Avanza (“Liberty Advances”), is only a third force, although it can count on the support of the center-right, the second force in parliament.

“Today we are appealing to justice, but another chapter will be played in the parliament, where there will have to be an in-depth discussion”, said Gerardo Martines.

The text of more than 600 articles submitted yesterday to the parliament on the “bases and starting points for the freedom of the Argentines”, aims, according to the presidency, to “restore the economic and social order based on the liberal doctrine embodied in the Constitution 1853”, for the defense of “the life, liberty and property of Argentines”.

Among other things, the electoral system will be changed – compulsory party votes for the nomination of candidates, which are too expensive for taxpayers, as judged by the new government – will be abolished, while the penalties for incidents or obstructing the movement in demonstrations will be much stricter . Changes to pensions are also foreseen, they will be automatically calculated in a “financially viable” way.

Also, 41 public enterprises are named – among them the giant public oil company YPF, the national airline Aerolíneas Argentinas, the public railway company Ferrocarriles Argentinos, etc. – that will be privatized. And the private sphere is also “liberalized”, with the establishment of “express divorce”, with a simple administrative act.

The river bill shows the intention of Mr Miley's government to make progress in parliament as the debate over whether the mammoth December 20 decree is constitutional is a give and take.

However, the first austerity measures announced immediately after Mr. Millay took office have been put into effect.

The peso was devalued by more than 50%, while transportation and energy subsidies were drastically reduced. These measures are already affecting millions of citizens. The new government says its aim is to reduce its chronic budget deficit Argentinian and reduce inflation (160% year-on-year).