International
Why do retirees protest in Argentina?
Retirees from Argentina, one of the groups most affected by the economic adjustment carried out by the Government of Javier Milei, protest every Wednesday in front of the headquarters of Congress in demand for an increase in their pensions, full coverage of their medication and the continuity of the social security moratorium, which ends on March 23.
About 7.5 million older adults receive a retirement credit in Argentina, that is, 15.7% of the population.
63.5% of Argentine retirees receive the minimum retirement, which in this month of March is 279,121 pesos (256 dollars), an income that reached 349,121 pesos for the reinforcement bonus that social security grants since September 2022 due to the economic emergency situation that the country is experiencing.
About 5.4 million retirees receive less than 400,000 pesos ($357), well below the basic basket of retirees calculated by the Ombudsman for the Elderly taking official data as a reference and estimated at 1,200,523 pesos (1,120 dollars) for April of this year.
Eugenio Semino, defender of the Third Age of the City of Buenos Aires, recently warned EFE that there is a “humanitarian crisis in the elderly sector.”
According to the Mirador de Actualidad del Trabajo y la Economía (MatE), each retiree lost since Milei assumed the Argentine Presidency more than 2.2 million pesos in 14 months.
In addition, more than eleven trillion pesos were no longer transferred to retirees, slightly less than what the Government spent on debt payments: 14 billion dollars (about 14 trillion pesos).
The vast majority of older adults cannot afford health expenses, the cost of which skyrocketed by 119% in 2024.
The Milei government ended the policy of free medicines for retirees.
Since last December, only members of the PAMI (Comprehensive Medical Assistance Program) have access to 100% coverage of medicines, that is, those with incomes below 418,682.56 pesos.
Between two and three million retirees and pensioners would be left out of total drug coverage.
Retirees demand the continuity of the social security moratorium, which ends next Sunday, March 23, and the Government has already said that it will not extend it.
This measure, which has been maintained for more than 20 years in Argentina, allows those who reach the required minimum age without having gathered the amount of contributions required by the social security law (30 years) to access a retirement immediately through a payment plan.
From March 23, people who turn 60 or 65, the retirement age of women and men, respectively, will no longer be able to access a pension if they do not have at least 30 years of contributions or contributions.
On the other hand, those over 65 years of age may receive a Universal Pension for the Elderly (PUAM) for an amount equivalent to 80% of a minimum retirement, which is updated by the Mobility Law.
Between 2022 and 2024, on average, about 425,000 people per year retired, about 70% did so with moratoriums, 17% in the general regime, 9% with a PUAM and the other 4% by some special regime. Without further moratoriums, it is estimated that almost 80% will have a PUAM.
This Wednesday’s retirement mobilization is once again supported by unions and social movements.
International
At least nine injured, including two children, in new US bombings in Yemen
At least nine people, including two children, were injured this Wednesday in a new wave of bombings carried out by the United States against at least four cities in Yemen under the control of the Houthi rebels, reported media affiliated with the Iranian-backed Shiite movement.
Al Masirah, spokesman for the Houthis, reported that at least “seven women and two children were injured in the US attack” in the Al Thawra district of Sana, the capital of Yemen controlled by the insurgents since 2014.
According to the chain, the bombings also targeted “the surroundings of the city of Saada”, north of the capital; the northern town of Hazm, in the governorship of Al Jawf; and a district of the city of Al Bayda, in the center of the country.
At least two missiles hit the capital’s neighborhood of Al Jeraf, on the road that leads to Saná airport, according to EFE.
Large columns of smoke and a large fire could be observed from different points of the city, while ambulance teams and firefighters went to the scene of the attack, which according to witnesses was aimed at a deposit.
Al Masirah added that one of the attacks hit “a celebration hall under construction in a residential neighborhood in the Al Thawra district” and, in Al Jawf, destroyed a farm and killed several head of cattle.
This new wave of bombings came minutes after US President Donald Trump warned that Iran must completely and immediately cease its support for the Houthis, not just reduce it, and threatened the latter that they will be “completely annihilated” if the attacks against Israel and the Red Sea do not cease.
The Republican leader estimated on his social network, Truth Social, that “tremendous damage” has already been inflicted on the Houthis and stressed that “the situation will progressively worsen.”
At the weekend, the United States began a series of airstrikes against different cities controlled by the Houthis in northern and central Yemen, as well as in the capital, Saná, bombings that resulted in more than fifty deaths.
International
Thousands of people join the retirees’ march in the capital of Argentina
Thousands of demonstrators began to mobilize in the vicinity of the Parliament of Argentina in support of the demands of the retirees, in the midst of a deployment of about 2,000 police officers, streets cut by the security forces, fences and warnings to the population not to attend the demonstration.
University professors, unions and social organizations joined the protest in an atmosphere of tension.
The march began in an atmosphere of tranquility around 17:30 local time (20:30 GMT), although there are moments of tension between demonstrators and security forces agents.
Retirees ask for improvements in their pensions, medication coverage and that the social security moratorium be maintained, for which pension is collected even if 30 years have not been contributed, and which expires next Sunday.
“When I worked I had enough to live, now that I’m retired not. I have an extra job to support myself. But I’m not coming for myself, I’m coming for all the retirees who can’t come,” Monica, one of the women present at the march, told EFE.
“The straw that broke the camel’s back was last Wednesday’s repression. Hitting a retiree, it was not necessary,” Monica added.
This demonstration is held in the middle of a strong security operation, with about 2,000 police officers deployed and the streets surrounding Parliament, 100 meters around, fenced with fences to prevent the circulation of vehicles and control the passage of people.
“Protest is not violence. The Police are going to repress any attack against the Republic,” read this morning in a message, accompanied by a symbol of danger, reproduced on screens and speakers in the train stations that connect the capital with the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires.
This communication service of Trenes Argentinos is usually used to inform about issues related to the service of trains or state health campaigns, such as vaccination or disease prevention.
A week ago the police repressed in a very forceful way the march of the retirees, then also supported by unions and football fans, with the result of more than 120 detainees and fifty injured, including the photographer Pablo Grillo, who is still in serious condition because of the impact of a tear gas cartridge on his head.
The Government asked Justice on Tuesday to arrest 29 people who participated in last week’s protest, banned them from entering football stadiums and offering a reward of ten million pesos (about 9,500 dollars) for anyone who provides data that allows them to identify “those who promoted the riots” in Congress.
International
The 55th General Assembly of the OAS will seek to “build resilient and inclusive economies”
The 55th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), to be held in Antigua and Barbuda this June, will focus on “building resilient and inclusive economies in the Americas,” the Permanent Council approved on Wednesday.
At an OAS meeting held at the headquarters in Washington, the Member States approved that this would be the subject of the next assembly, proposed by the ambassador of the country that will serve as the headquarters, Ronald Sanders.
“We believe that this issue coincides with urgent regional concerns,” Sanders said during his speech.
Between June 25 and 27 of this year, the capital of the archipelago, Saint John, will host this annual assembly of the OAS.
On the other hand, the election of that country as the place for the event was agreed by acclamation at the previous congress, which took place in the Paraguayan city of Luque last June.
“Allow me to thank all the delegations and Member States for their unanimous support and support for hosting this important meeting. Antigua and Barbuda hope to welcome you all in three months,” the ambassador said.
“We hope that the warmth of our Caribbean environment will promote harmonious debates, as well as fruitful and positive results for our hemisphere,” he added. “Our discussions will foster stronger ties and produce significant results.”
After the proposal and that no country objected to anything about it, the outgoing secretary general of the OAS, Luis Almagro, and the rest of the members of the table signed together with Sanders the resolution that confirms the issue and the date of the conclave.
In addition, this will be the first General Assembly of the future leader of the organization, the Surinamese Albert Ramdin, who was elected on March 10 by acclamation and who will assume office in May.
Therefore, Ramdin will be the first Caribbean secretary general of the organization and his debut will coincide with the return of the meeting to the Caribbean.
In 2002, Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, hosted the 32nd General Assembly. Subsequently, in 2006 and 2016, respectively, the Dominican Republic hosted the inter-American meeting.
At least nine injured, including two children, in new US bombings in Yemen
Thousands of people join the retirees’ march in the capital of Argentina
The 55th General Assembly of the OAS will seek to “build resilient and inclusive economies”
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