Second general strike in Argentina with empty streets against Milei’s adjustment

The ultraliberal government Javier Milei This Thursday faced the second general strike against its adjustment policies in a measure that showed half-empty streets with stores open but without customers, little public transport and closed schools in the Argentine capital.

The main railway terminals were deserted, hundreds of flights were canceled and only a few bus lines operated.

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Hector Daermajority leader General Confederation of Labor (CGT), which called for a 24-hour strike, celebrated its “forcefulness”and said that the massive adhesion“shows that the government has to take note”.

Members of the Argentine Federal Police walk at Jorge Newbery International Airport on May 9, 2024, in Buenos Aires, during a general strike called by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT). (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP) (LUIS ROBAYO/)

There were no mobilizations good airbut in provinces like Cordoba, Rio Preto It is Chubut Strike supporters marched with slogans against the “Basic Law”of the economic reforms under discussion in the Senate.

Argentina is experiencing a strong economic recession, with inflation close to 290% year-on-year and a fiscal adjustment that allowed the first surplus since 2008 in the first quarter of the year, but with thousands of layoffs and the deterioration of salaries and pensions.

Industrial activity accentuated its collapse in March with a year-on-year drop of 21.2% and construction fell 42.2% in the same period, reported the Indec statistical institute.

The industrial contraction is the biggest since April 2020, when activity was semi-paralyzed by the coronavirus pandemic. COVID-19.

According to the Institute of Economics of the Argentine Business University (UADE), the strike cost 544 million dollars due to the impact that the stoppage of activities would have generated.

“I do not agree with the strike, it does not favor the employee; It’s actually counterproductive“, the businessman told AFP Facundo Mendiaz37 years old, owner of a minimarket in Buenos Aires.

In turn, the Minister of Economy, Luis Caputorepudiated the strike and accused trade unionism of being “increasingly distant from reality”, in a message written on his account on the social network X.

People walk at the Constitución train station on May 9, 2024, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Juan Ignacio Roncoroni/EFE)

“There is nobody”

Alexandre Felipe He is 59 years old and owns a popular coffee shop located opposite the Chacabuco Parkin a middle-class neighborhood in the Argentine capital.

“Whoever wanted to lift the shutters today, but there are no customers, it doesn’t even feel like Sunday, I can’t justify what I spend on electricity“He told AFP, leaning on a table.

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“Things are very bad, the protest is understandable, people buy essentials” he added.

Most of the open businesses were in the food sector, while the few buses that were circulating were almost empty.

It is the second blow against Milei’s readjustment after the one carried out on January 24th.

Protests are daily. The biggest occurred on April 23, when hundreds of thousands of people marched across the country in defense of the public university, threatened by a lack of budget.

“Public opinion has shown itself willing to mobilize on certain issues that it considers to be collective goods and that are above political polarization.“, explained the political scientist to AFP Gabriel Vommaro.

No exports

In the ports of rosary beads (Santa Fé, north-central), where the country exports 80% of its agro-industrial production, there was no activity.

The strike took place in the middle of “thick harvest”, the period of greatest production of this important global food exporter.

“Compliance is total, we are peacefully at the gates of each factory and all ports are at a standstill.“, he told AFP Martin Moralesunion leader St. Lawrencenorth of rosary beads.

In good airbanks, schools and most gas stations did not provide service and garbage collection was also not carried out.

Aerial view of the Presidente Arturo Umberto Illia highway over the Padre Carlos Mujica neighborhood (known as Villa 31) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, taken on May 9, 2024, during a general strike called by the CGT. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO/AFP). (LUIS ROBAYO/)

The Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrichasked the population to “go out to work”, in an impromptu press conference at the Constitución bus terminal, one of the main transport nodes in the Argentine capital.

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“Those who haven’t yet gone to work leave, there are means of transport for those who want to“said Bullrich, while the Secretary of Transportation, Franco Mogettaestimated that the service worked in “40%”.

The official stated that during the morning attacks were reported on buses for which “They broke the windows and put nails in them so they could drill through them.“the tires.

Polls place Milei’s positive image at between 45% and 50%, despite the fact that in five months he has imposed what he defines as “the biggest adjustment in the history of humanity”.

Source: Elcomercio