President Javier Milei’s proposed decree of sweeping economic reform and deregulation has sparked outrage in Buenos Aires as thousands took to the streets in protest. The “chainsaw plan” would change or eliminate more than 350 economic regulations, jeopardizing worker and consumer protections. Labor unions organized the march to demand the courts invalidate the decree, highlighting that the oversight powers of the Congress would be threatened. President Milei’s disregard for the division of powers and worker rights has incensed the protesters.
The congress’s extraordinary session this week is set to examine the controversial plan, which seeks to cut state spending and loosen government intervention in the market. The country’s heavy reliance on government interventions could not be understated but outright scrapping regulatory measures has been met with hostility. Protester Adrián Grana described the decree as “a decalogue to favour the powerful to the detriment of the people.” Milei’s proponents laud the plan as necessary for economic growth and creating job opportunities, however.
The outcry from workers’ rights groups and labor unions has put Milei under pressure, but he remains committed to the plan. While reiterating respect for the division of powers, union leaders want to protect worker and consumer interests by ensuring the ruling does not infringe on their rights. The construction union leader, Gerardo Martínez, urged workers to push back on the plans if an unconstitutionality exists.
The locals in Buenos Aires were vocal, chanting “No” to the sweeping economic reforms. The protesters were joined by human rights groups, social activists, and political parties to condemn the drastic measures that would mostly benefit businesses and the wealthy. The level of opposition remains high, such that Milei would have to address concerns around the perceived advantage the wealthy would get from the plan.
President Milei’s term has only been in power since December 10th, with his flagship policy pitched as a means to turn around an economy battered by the pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic battered the Argentinian economy, with the urban poor bearing the brunt of the harsh economic conditions. The plan’s supporters believe the deregulation will catalyze the economy, allowing businesses to thrive, and creating more jobs opportunities to ease the economic hardship.
Sweeping economic reform plans seldom bear fruit without meeting strong resistance, and the fightback from labor unions, human rights groups, and party members is evidence that Milei’s proposals will not come easy. The country’s politics remain vitriolic, with left-leaning and right-wing agendas meeting head-on on societal issues. However, time will tell if Milei’s calculated gamble will bear fruit or make Buenos Aires a hotbed of protests come the next few weeks.