Argentina: Thousands of protesters demand wage increases and measures to fight inflation

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Due to the economic crisis, 40% of the population has sunk into poverty, while the center-left president Alberto Fernandez is struggling to find solutions to contain inflation that reaches 70% annually.

Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Buenos Aires on Wednesday, demanding that Argentina’s government raise wages and unemployment benefits that have been depleted by a wave of austerity and a weakening national currency.

Due to the economic crisis, 40% of the population has sunk into poverty, while the center-left president Alberto Fernandez is struggling to find solutions to contain inflation that reaches 70% annually.

Beating drums and waving flags of unions and left-wing organizations, the demonstrators paralyzed traffic on central avenues of the capital and reached Congress and the presidential palace.

The protesters demanded wage increases in line with inflation, as well as more social spending to ease the suffering caused by the economic crisis.

“We cannot continue with such levels of inflation, every day we lose part of our salary,” said Pablo Moyano, head of the CGT (Argentina’s largest) trade union confederation.

Market appreciation is daily, reflecting galloping inflation, which rose 7.4% last month alone. It was the largest monthly increase in two decades.

Addressing a crowd of protesters, Moyano – a Peronist like President Fernandez – called for immediate price control measures.

“There are no jobs, wages are not enough and there are constant price increases,” said Ramon Luque, head of a union representing workers in the paper industry.

RES-EMP

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