Thousands protest austerity measures in Buenos Aires after World Cup

Thousands of people demonstrated in Buenos Aires on Wednesday against President Javier Milei's austerity measures, after public attention in Argentina shifted back from the World Cup.

Before the tournament, pensioners calling for higher payments and better access to health care had held regular weekly protests outside Congress. Those demonstrations were often dispersed by police. After a month in which Argentina followed the World Cup, where the national team finished as runner-up, the protest movement was joined by trade unions grouped under the CGT, the country's largest labor federation, as well as leftist political parties and other supporters.

The large mobilization briefly blocked access to the capital on Wednesday morning. Clashes between demonstrators and police were reported in Avellaneda, on the outskirts of Buenos Aires.

Raul Maldonado, a 69-year-old protester, said a minority was becoming wealthy while most people remained on low salaries. Almost half of Argentina's 7.8 million retirees receive the minimum pension, which together with a bonus is about $330 a month. The source reported that this is less than one third of what is needed to cover seniors' basic needs.

Hugo Benitez, the CGT's social security secretary, said the union would increase its presence at demonstrations. He said Argentina was facing a critical situation for workers.

Milei's government has used austerity measures over two and a half years to reduce inflation from nearly 200 percent to 33 percent. Opponents have criticized what they describe as the high social cost of the policy. Milei has acknowledged social costs but says patience is needed.

The government points to a fiscal surplus and an improved credit rating. Deputy Economy Minister Jose Luis Daza said Wednesday that the government was creating conditions for employment, wages and incomes to improve. Trade unionist Horacio Jerez disputed the effect on households, saying wage purchasing power was falling and that macroeconomic indicators did not reflect daily social conditions for Argentines.