Intense protests sweep Argentina amid President Javier Milei’s aggressive austerity measures, including mass layoffs, pension cuts, and dismantling of public institutions, sparking widespread outrage from workers, retirees, healthcare staff, and unions.

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Argentina is facing an escalating wave of protests and strikes as millions mobilize against the far-right economic agenda introduced by President Javier Milei. His administration’s radical austerity programs have triggered mass layoffs, deep cuts to public services, and attacks on workers’ rights,fuelling a growing social crisis and placing the nation on edge.

From pensioners to healthcare workers and aviation professionals, broad sectors of society are demanding urgent redress amid worsening economic inequality and social instability.

The Milei government’s drive to dismantle key state agencies such as the Agricultural Technology Institute (INTA), the Industrial Technology Institute (INTI), and the National Highway Administration has sparked fierce backlash. These institutions have played a vital role in supporting national development and protecting workers’ livelihoods across rural and industrial sectors.

The Argentine State Workers Association (ATE) denounced these closures, warning they will devastate small and medium-sized enterprises and undermine essential infrastructure projects.

The construction sector echoed these concerns, emphasizing that private companies cannot fill the void left by the dismantling of Vialidad Nacional, threatening the future of Argentina’s road networks.

Retirees,among the hardest hit by budget cuts,organized their signature March for Dignity in front of the National Congress on July 16, pressing for pension increases and an extension of the pension moratorium. These demands underscore the growing indignation over policies that strip the elderly of their financial security amid rampant inflation and soaring poverty.

The Senate’s recent approval of a modest pension boost, despite fierce opposition from Milei’s camp, demonstrates the power and resilience of collective action. Retirees continue to face repression as police crack down on peaceful protests, reflecting the government’s unwillingness to address social demands.

Las intensas protestas, marchas y paros en #Argentina 🇦🇷 son motivadas por el desmantelamiento de organismos estatales, recortes en salud y jubilaciones, y cambios en la normativa aeronáuticahttps://t.co/TGNmVA1D5O

— teleSUR TV (@teleSURtv) July 15, 2025

The text reads: The intense protests, marches, and strikes in #Argentina 🇦🇷 are driven by the dismantling of state agencies, cuts to healthcare and pensions, and changes to aviation regulations.

The resistance is uniting across sectors. On July 17, doctors, residents, and staff from the Doctor Garrahan Children’s Hospital staged a 24-hour strike, marching to Plaza de Mayo to demand increased funding and better wages. They emphasized the catastrophic impact of austerity on Argentina’s public health system,a lifeline for millions.

The feminist organization Ni Una Menos lent its support, highlighting how austerity disproportionately affects women and vulnerable populations by eroding access to essential social services.

The Airline Pilots Association (APLA) declared a 24-hour strike for July 19 in protest against Milei’s Decree 378/2025. By easing flight and rest regulations, the decree dangerously compromises pilot safety and endangers the lives of passengers and workers alike.

APLA’s warning is a stark illustration of how Milei’s drive to slash regulations in the name of “efficiency” jeopardizes public safety and undermines labor protections.

Argentina stands at a crossroads, facing off against a government whose “chainsaw plan” risks dismantling decades of social progress. The growing protests underscore a profound rejection of austerity policies that deepen inequality and erode the social fabric.

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