BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) 鈥 President Javier Milei announced sweeping initiatives Wednesday to transform Argentina鈥檚 struggling economy, including easing government regulation and allowing privatization of state-run industries as a way to boost exports and investment.
The right-wing libertarian announced the moves for South America's second biggest economy just hours after thousands of Argentines took to the streets of the capital to protest against austerity and deregulation actions taken last week by .
The demonstrations went off relatively peacefully, after a government warning against blocking streets.
Around the start of the protest, which drew thousands of marchers, police briefly scuffled with some demonstrators and two men were arrested. But the event concluded without widespread street blockages that have been frequent in past years.
Undeterred by the protest, Milei afterward announced the measures in a televised address to the nation.
鈥淭he goal is start on the road to rebuilding our country, return freedom and autonomy to individuals and start to transform the enormous amount of regulations that have blocked, stalled and stopped economic growth in our country,鈥 Milei said.
The approximately 300 changes would earmark many government companies for privatization, and loosen protections for renters, employees and shoppers.
After the announcement, people in some neighborhoods of Buenos Aires banged pots to show their disapproval. 鈥淐acerolazos鈥 鈥 noisy anti-government protests in which people bang casserole pots 鈥 have been symbolic in Argentina in recent years when people want to express their anger.
Milei鈥檚 administration had said it will allow protests, but threatened to cut off public aid payments to anyone who blocks thoroughfares. Marchers were also forbidden to carry sticks, cover their faces or bring children to the protest.
Marchers set out toward Buenos Aires鈥 iconic Plaza de Mayo, the scene of protests dating back to the country鈥檚 1970s dictatorship. Police struggled to keep demonstrators from taking over the entire boulevard, and in the end many kept to the sidewalks and filled about half the plaza.
Eduardo Belliboni, one of the march鈥檚 organizers, said demonstrators faced 鈥渁n enormous repressive apparatus.鈥 Belliboni鈥檚 left-wing Polo Obrero group has a long history of leading street blockages.
Toward the end of the demonstration, organizers called on the country鈥檚 trade unions to declare a general strike.
Today鈥檚 was Milei鈥檚 first test of how his administration would respond to demonstrations against , which he says are needed to address Argentina鈥檚 severe crisis.
The steps include a , cuts to energy and transportation subsidies, and the closure of some government ministries. They come amid soaring inflation and rising poverty.
Protesters 鈥渃an demonstrate as many times as they want. They can go to the squares .. but the streets are not going to be closed,鈥 Milei鈥檚 security minister, Patricia Bullrich, told local media.
Bullrich announced a new 鈥減rotocol鈥 to maintain public order that allows federal forces to clear people blocking streets without a judicial order and authorizes the police to identify 鈥 through video or digital means 鈥 people protesting and obstructing public thoroughfares. It can bill them for the cost of mobilizing security forces.
Some groups say the protocol goes too far and criminalizes the right to protest.
Argentine labor, social and human rights groups on Tuesday signed a petition asking the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to intercede against the new public order procedures. The document says the security protocol is 鈥渋ncompatible with the rights to free assembly and association, freedom of expression and social protest鈥 recognized by Argentina鈥檚 constitution.
On Monday, the government announced that people who block streets could be removed from the public assistance benefit lists if they are on one.
In Argentina, some people receive social support directly from the government, but others get support through social organizations with direct links to federal offices. Milei鈥檚 administration says many of these groups use this as a way to force people to go out to protests in exchange for support
A recent poll by the University of Buenos Aires鈥 Observatory of Applied Social Psychology said 65% of those surveyed agree with banning street blockages.
Milei, a 53-year-old economist who rose to fame on television with profanity-laden tirades against what he called the political caste, became president with the support of with the economic crisis.
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