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News > Latin America

Venezuela Condemns Strong Repression in Argentina

  • Argentine retirees protest with bread and water against the reforms of the government of pensions and tax, in front of National Congress of Argentina, in Buenos Aires, Argentina December 20 2017

    Argentine retirees protest with bread and water against the reforms of the government of pensions and tax, in front of National Congress of Argentina, in Buenos Aires, Argentina December 20 2017 | Photo: Reuters

Published 20 December 2017
Opinion

The president of the South American nation, Nicolás Maduro, said he felt sad, adding that the actions in Argentina encouraged him to defend the rights of the people even more.

The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, condemned the strong repression carried out by the security forces of the Argentine Government of Mauricio Macri against the retirees of that nation.

"What they are doing in Argentina should not be done, to take retirement from the elderly, then increase the age to 65 years for women, and 70 years for men is a mockery akin to putting a hand in their pocket to take away their retirement," the Venezuelan leader denounced on Wednesday.

The statements were given during the program La Hora de la Salsa, broadcast by Radio Miraflores (Presidential Palace). The president said he felt sad, so he added that the actions in Argentina encouraged him to defend the rights of the people even more.

Related:
 Pope, Human Rights Group: Reforms in Argentina Hurt Elderly

"When there are economic difficulties, the first thing the oligarchy thinks of, together with the International Monetary Fund, is to put the hand in the pocket to the people and take their pensions, then is to reduce their wages and throw them out of their jobs," he said.

Despite the protests, the Argentine Congress approved the reform last Tuesday with 127 votes in favor, 117 against and two abstentions. The new law changes the formula for calculating social benefits, which, according to the opposition, will affect 17 million people.

The pension reform modifies the calculation of pensions which in March 2018 will increase to 5.7 percent instead of 12 percent, as foreseen by the old legislation. In addition, the retirement age rises to 70 for men and women, whose maximum age until now was 60 and 65 years respectively.

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