Argentine gov’t to bill protesters for security costs

Riot police standing guard during a demonstration against Argentine President Javier Milei’s government. AFP

BUENOS AIRES — The organizers of the first protest against Argentine President Javier Milei’s government will have to cough up tens of thousands of dollars to cover the cost of security forces deployed to the demonstration, the government’s spokesperson said Friday.

Thousands turned out for the march on Wednesday to oppose Milei’s austerity measures and commemorate the deadly 2001 protests that followed the country’s economic meltdown.

Sign of dictatorship

Spokesperson Manuel Adorni said a heavy deployment of police, paramilitary officers, and antiriot forces, cost P60 million ($73,000 at the official exchange rate).“The bill will be sent to the social movements” who will “bear the responsibility of the cost which should not fall on citizens.”

Organizers had criticized the heavy show of security as an attempt at provocation.

“This reminds me of the dictatorship” of 1976 to 1983, said Eduardo Belliboni, leader of the leftist movement Polo Obrero.

Supervised

The security operation was supervised from police headquarters by the right-wing president’s Security Minister Patricia Bullrich, televised images showed.

Milei’s government has sought to clamp down on hundreds of annual traffic-clogging demonstrations in the capital, also threatening to withdraw social assistance from those who block roads.

READ: Argentines stream through city streets to press for more jobs, food