Argentina’s Milei flees angry rally amid austerity backlash, scandal
Argentina’s far-right President Javier Milei has faced violent protests as demonstrators hurled rocks and bottles at his motorcade in Buenos Aires province.
The unrest in Lomas de Zamora, a Peronist stronghold within Buenos Aires province, forced him to cut short a rally just days ahead of crucial provincial elections.
Protesters shouted “Out with Milei!” in scenes that highlighted the deep divisions roiling the country.
The protest reflects growing public frustration with Milei’s economic policies and a corruption scandal involving his inner circle.
Milei, elected in 2023 on promises to eliminate Argentina’s fiscal deficit and tame rampant inflation, has pushed through austerity measures that have hurt millions of Argentines by cutting purchasing power and fueling rising unemployment.
Milei’s strict economic reforms have drawn widespread backlash for their social impact.
“I have a daughter with a disability, and he hits us directly,” one protester said. “There’s no reflection or self-criticism because he doesn’t care.”
The president’s sister and chief of staff, Karina Milei, was present during the attack.
She is currently embroiled in a corruption scandal, accused of accepting kickbacks from pharmaceutical suppliers, according to leaked audio recordings.
The scandal has severely undermined Milei’s anti-corruption message and intensified public anger.
Milei, a vocal critic of the left-wing Kirchner political movement, blamed the protests on Kirchnerist factions loyal to former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
“Kirchnerism never again!” he wrote on social media following the incident.
The protests come just days before elections on Sept. 7 in Buenos Aires Province, where voters will renew 46 seats in the provincial Chamber of Deputies and 23 in the Senate.
These midterms, held separately from national elections for the first time since 2003, are seen as a key test of Milei’s popularity and the viability of his economic agenda.
Milei is also facing impeachment threats after a controversial promotion of a cryptocurrency that led to heavy losses for investors, further damaging his credibility.
Political tensions remain high as Argentines grapple with economic hardship, political scandals, and increasing polarization.
Analysts warn that Milei’s austerity policies risk deepening social unrest ahead of the national midterms in October.
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