(MENAFN- Gulf Times) A trade union-organised march in Buenos Aires descended into violence, with thousands of protesters clashing with police as they demanded lawmakers reject a controversial pension reform plan.
Military police used water cannons, teargas and rubber bullets against demonstrators, who threw stones and burned barricades made of rubbish outside the doors of Argentina's congress.
Cabinet chief Marcos Pena accused the opposition of inciting the violence, saying: 'We saw the clear search for violence, first in the street and then on the premises itself. But the General Labour Confederation, the country's main trade union, pointed the finger at the government, blaming it for the 'militarisation of the surroundings of the congress.
Inside the legislature, the unrest forced the postponement of the vote, as opposition lawmakers cried out for the debate to be suspended.
'We cannot sit in session with this violence, said Elisa Carrio, national deputy for Buenos Aires and leader of the social liberal Civic Coalition ARI party.
The debate was supposed to take place next week to allow parliamentary committees the chance to analyse the issue — but the ruling party on Wednesday forced its acceleration into the lower chamber of deputies, sparking fury from the unions.
If passed, President Mauricio Macri's reform will play an important part in cutting Argentina's fiscal deficit, with expected savings of 100bn pesos ($5.6 bn). The government needs to cut the deficit by 4.2% this year.
The opposition argues reform would negatively impact some 17mn retirees, as it would change the formula used to calculate benefits, adjusting payments quarterly taking only the official inflation index into account.
As it stands, the Argentinian retirement system guarantees those who contribute to it 80% of their wages for 30 years, with limits for the highest salaries.
Since 2009, retirees have received automatic increases every six months.
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