Protests in Argentina Turn Violent as Pensioners and Football Fans Clash with Police

Demonstrators oppose pension cuts and austerity measures under President Milei, with hundreds injured or detained in Buenos Aires.

Retirees protesting pension cuts were joined by football fans in an unprecedented alliance outside Argentina's Congress in Buenos Aires.
Police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse the crowd, which included elderly individuals and organized football fan groups known as 'barras bravas.'
The protest escalated into violence, with cars set on fire, stones thrown, and barricades erected; over 100 people were detained, and dozens injured, including a photographer critically hurt by a tear gas canister.
President Javier Milei's austerity measures, including pension cuts and reduced access to free medications, have drawn widespread criticism for disproportionately affecting retirees.
Security Minister Patricia Bullrich defended the police response, labeling protesters as violent agitators, while opposition leaders condemned the government's handling of the situation as excessive and repressive.