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Argentina's dramatic move to the right, which started when Mauricio Macri became president on Dec.10, proves that when Macri chose the name Let’s Change for his political coalition he was serious as since taking office 70,000 workers have been laid off — many simply due to their ideological differences with the new administration. Strong currency devaluation and soaring inflation has also affected the living conditions of low-income families.
But besides economic policy, one of the main differences between Macri and his left leaning predecessors are his views on social conflict.
While the Kirchners strongly avoided using security forces to deal with roadblocks or protests, Argentina’s Security Ministry has issued a new protocol allowing protests to be repressed.
The protocol allows security forces to resort to potentially violent measures to disperse protests “to guarantee free circulation of people and goods.” This means that political protests are now a matter of state security.
ANALYSIS: Macri May Face Backlash Trying to Push Reforms in Argentina
Social movements immediately responded to the authoritarian-type measures.
The Center for Legal and Social Studies, one of the most prestigious human rights NGOs in the country, issued a statement condemning the new protocol.
“In our country, blocking roadways and occupying public spaces has a long tradition as a method of social struggle. Unfortunately, we also have a long history of repression of social protests in which the security forces killed many demonstrators," the center added.
Argentine protocol doesn't limit use of firearms, rubber bullets in protests #RightToProtest @MinSeg @PatoBullrichhttps://t.co/3pfpqFe2Sf
— CELS (@CELS_Argentina) February 22, 2016
The protocol also imposes restrictions on journalists covering protests. Police will set a specific area for the press to work from, a measure that has been rejected by journalists and the Buenos Aires Press Workers Union. They argue it will complicate their work and that police would potentially block them from seeing the abuses they commit against protesters.
Timing, Also a Problem
Grassroots organizations criticized the timing of the initiative by noting that the document was issued only one week before a national strike by public sector workers, including the Worker’s Central of Argentina, social movements and left-wing organizations to demand the end to massive layoffs and the liberation of political prisoner Milagro Sala, a highly respected Indigenous leader and member of the Mercosur Parliament.
Also, the day after the new protocol was made public, the White House confirmed U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Argentina in March, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the military coup which put in power a Washington-backed dictatorship.
The head of Mothers of Plaza de Mayo movement, Hebe de Bonafini, sees this as an attempt to block the massive demonstration that is expected to take place that day.
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