Protesters and police clash in Argentina as Congress debates Milei’s reform bill

Police in Argentina clashed Tuesday with anti-government protesters outside Congress, where senators were scheduled to debate a bill on government and economic reforms proposed by libertarian President Javier Milei.

A CNN en Español team on the ground witnessed police using water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd, while protesters were seen hurling objects back at police.

A car belonging to a TV station was overturned and set on fire before it was extinguished by firefighters.

So far, there are no official reports of injuries, but CNNEE journalists witnessed paramedics helping injured people.

A demonstrator reacts during a protest near Argentina's National Congress, on the day senators debate President Javier Milei's economic reform bill, in Buenos Aires on June 12. - Mariana Nedelcu/Reuters
A demonstrator reacts during a protest near Argentina's National Congress, on the day senators debate President Javier Milei's economic reform bill, in Buenos Aires on June 12. - Mariana Nedelcu/Reuters

Demonstrators from various social groups and unions had gathered there to voice their opposition to the proposed reforms.

The bill – which has already been approved in the Chamber of Deputies – includes a declaration of a “public emergency in administrative, economic, financial and energy matters for a period of one year,” which would delegate legislative powers in those areas to the Executive Branch without having to go through Congress.

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