Argentine riot police disperse protesters with water cannons and tear gas ahead of key Senate vote
CTV
Argentine riot police unleashed water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters who threw sticks, stones and Molotov cocktails outside Congress on Wednesday, escalating tensions before lawmakers were to vote on state overhaul and tax bills proposed by President Javier Milei.
Argentine riot police unleashed water cannons and tear gas to disperse protesters who threw sticks, stones and Molotov cocktails outside Congress on Wednesday, escalating tensions before lawmakers were to vote on state overhaul and tax bills proposed by President Javier Milei.
The vote is the most serious test to date of the libertarian leader's vision of governance and change.
Thousands of demonstrators had converged in downtown Buenos Aires as the Senate opened debate on the key legislation, urging lawmakers to reject Milei's program of harsh austerity and economic deregulation.
The carnival atmosphere that prevailed around Congress earlier in the day -- with protesters blasting trumpets, dancing and buying beer and grilled meat from impromptu street barbecues -- quickly turned as crowds jostled and shoved against a column of police armed with shields and batons.
Security forces backed by armored cars with mounted water cannons pushed back protesters hurling flaming bottles and other objects. Despite the wintry weather, hundreds of police blasted water cannons and tear gas at crowds that surged toward cordoned-off streets, and at one point, trampled over a police barricade.
Ensuing scuffles between police and protesters injured at least 20 officers, authorities said. Security forces said they arrested 15 people.
