An aerial view of a fire during a protest outside the National Congress in Buenos Aires on June 12, 2024.
Thomas Cuesta | AFP | Getty Images
Argentina's Senate narrowly passed President Javier Miley's sweeping economic reform bill, delivering an initial legislative victory for the right-wing leader even as protesters clashed with riot police.
Lawmakers in the Argentine Senate voted 37-36 on Wednesday to approve the bill after a marathon debate, with Vice President and Senate President Victoria Villarroel casting the deciding vote in favor of Miley's economic measures.
The bill, which was initially supported by the House of Representatives in April, will now be considered point by point before it is fully approved on Thursday.
The reform bill is one of the basic principles of Miley's efforts to revive the country's economy, which is suffering from the crisis. Among other issues, the bill seeks to privatize some state entities in the country, provide a generous incentive plan for foreign investors and ease workers' rights.
Pictures published on the Getty Images website showed riot police officers deploying water cannons to disperse the demonstrators, and a car was set on fire during the demonstrations.
While many demonstrators demonstrated peacefully, riot police used tear gas, and at least 18 people were arrested, the Buenos Aires Times reported.
The Vice President of Argentina said, according to Reuters: “Today there are two Argentines.”
“A violent Argentina that sets a car on fire, throws stones and discusses practicing democracy, and another Argentina with workers waiting with great pain and sacrifices for the change they voted for,” Villarroel said.
Argentine Vice President Victoria Villarroel votes to break a tie in a vote on a major reform package for far-right President Javier Miley in a session marked by strikes and demonstrations at the National Congress in Buenos Aires on June 12, 2024.
Thomas Cuesta | AFP | Getty Images
Left-wing political parties and trade unions strongly oppose Miley's economic agenda.
In early May, Miley's government faced its second general strike in less than six months, with workers across the country angry over proposed austerity measures and a deepening economic crisis.
The Liberal leader, who won the presidential runoff late last year, said there was no alternative to so-called “shock therapy” to treat the situation.
