Retirees in Buenos Aires protest pension veto amid soaring inflation

Retirees marched on Wednesday in Buenos Aires to protest against the planned veto by Argentina's President Javier Milei. This comes in light of a bill passed last week by the local Congress to increase the minimum pension.

Last week, the Argentine Senate approved a bill to increase pension benefits by over 8 percent.

Although the government has managed to slow the rise in prices, the cost of living in July was 4 percent, and cumulative inflation in the first seven months of the year reached 87 percent.

The annual inflation rate is around 263.4 percent. At the same time, the minimum monthly pension is about 225,000 pesos ($233), and the basic basket of food, medicines, and other goods and services for an adult exceeds 291,000 pesos ($301).

So, why the protest? The reason was the veto announced by President Javier Milei against the bill raising pensions.

The retirees' demonstration took place on Wednesday in the center of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

They treated us with gas in the eyes. It's some kind of madness; it's very sad - said one of the retired women who took part in the protest.

The demonstrators gathered around the parliament and president's headquarters and loudly expressed their opposition. Officers tried to push the protesters onto the sidewalk and then used tear gas.

The last few months in Argentina have been marked by mass protests concerning both the government's policies and the difficult economic situation. The difficulties faced by the country's residents also affect tourists.

Let's remember that on January 24, an all-national general strike was declared in Buenos Aires. Airports were closed, and all flights were canceled. Tourists were stranded on the streets of the Argentinian capital. The protests are conducted against the rule of Javier Milei but also due to the gigantic inflation and rising prices, which are not accompanied by an equivalent increase in wages.