Violence clashes were noted once again yesterday at Buenos Airesoutside the Argentine Congress, between trade unionists and protesters – civil society activists with the security forceswhile the MPs were debating for the second day in a row a comprehensive package of reforms of the country’s new president, Javier Millay.

Argentina is in the midst of a serious economic crisis. Inflation is over 200% and around 40% of the once prosperous country’s population lives below the poverty line.

News networks showed protesters hitting police officers with sticks and police firing rubber-coated bullets and tear gas into the crowd.

This package of measures includes transfer of part of the legislative power to the government for two years, it becomes possible to privatization of many state-owned companies and are provided for changes in tax and election law.

The economist Miley took office in mid-December and proposed a radical overhaul of the country, which is in dire financial straits. Lacking a majority in parliament, it recently scrapped a number of plans from the legislative package in order to secure the approval of others

South America’s second largest economy suffers from a bloated state apparatus, low industrial productivity and a largely shadow economy that deprives the state of critical tax revenue. Its currency, the Argentine peso, continues to lose value against the US dollar, while its massive debt piles up.