The first general strike since 2019 begins in Argentina: this is how Milei faces it

Argentina The half-day general strike began this Wednesday, called by the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), the main trade union center in the country, and supported by political parties and social and human rights organizations, among others, which represents the first strike of these features since 2019.

With the measure, called between 12:00 (15:00 GMT) and 00:00 local time (03:00 GMT on Thursday), the Argentine union movement will display its strength to protest against the reforms of the Executive of the ultra-liberal Javier Milei, which seek to deregulate the economy and disarm the structure of the State as we know it today.

The president of Argentina will spend this Wednesday at the Quinta de Olivos (official residence), the day in which Argentina is experiencing its first general strike since 2019, a strike that his cabinet ministers criticized for considering that the “oligarchy” of unionists seek to defend their “privileges”.

As reported in his usual press conference at the Casa Rosada (seat of Government), the presidential spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, the president “will remain in Olivos“during the day and, at some point during the day, he will meet with the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich, “to analyze the events”, although he did not specify whether it will be at the presidential residence or at the portfolio headquarters.

Precisely, the former presidential candidate of the Together for Change coalition (center-right) published on the social network X: “There is no strike that stops us, there is no threat that intimidates us”.

Bullrich treated the leaders leading the protest as “mafia unionists, poverty managers, complicit judges and corrupt politicians“, which are “defending their privileges, resisting the change that society decided democratically and that the president leads with determination”.

The chancellor, Diana Mondino, also used that social network to write that “the strike has no justification”.

“Summoned by the oligarchy of millionaires with armored cars and chauffeurs, false representatives of the workers, it confirms that we are on the right path. Things are achieved with effort, not crying and kicking”he explained.

The head of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, who is in Paraguay for a Mercosur meeting, concluded: “We are not afraid of them”.

The Minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, joined this message and added: “It has never been so clear to society that we are facing a political strike for violating their privileges.”, on the same social network.

Luis Petri, head of Defense, stated that in his portfolio “working normally”.

He stressed that “to 44 days” of the Government of Milei“the same union members who were silent for 4 years organize a strike to defend their privileges”, in reference to the government of Alberto Fernández (2019-2023), which ended with 211.4% annual inflation and without any call for a general strike.

The General Confederation of Labor (CGT), the main trade union center in the country and identified with Peronism, called this strike, supported by political parties and social and human rights organizations, among others, 18 days after the inauguration of the ultraliberal Government and It takes place a month and a half after December 10.

From noon (15:00 GMT) to midnight (03:00 GMT), the Argentine union muscle will try to show its strength against the reforms of the current Executive that seek to deregulate the economy and dismantle the structure of the State as it is known today.

The protest is focused on the decree of necessity and urgency (DNU), put into force on December 29 and still under judicial protection in several points, and the draft law Bases and Starting Points for the Freedom of Argentines, which is Thursday it will begin to be debated in the Lower House.