ARGENTINA: The Demonstration's Aftermath & more – 20th Mar 2025

¡Buenos días from Greenway Parks! This is the Rorshok Argentina Update from the 20th of March twenty twenty-five. A quick summary of what's going down in Argentina.

Let’s start with some updates on a story from last week. On Wednesday the 12th, a protest turned violent outside the Congress building when football fans joined retirees in their demonstration, rallying for better retirement and healthcare rights. Riot police responded with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. Things have escalated since, with international outlets like The Guardian covering the news and the United Nations urging Argentina to investigate the shooting of Pablo Grillo, a photojournalist who is now in intensive care.

Patricia Bullrich, the security minister, dismissed the need for an internal probe, defending law enforcement’s actions. She also accused the demonstrators of trying to destabilize the government. Similarly, President Milei defended the police, calling officers the good guys and branding demonstrators as criminals. Human rights groups called the repression unprecedented, with reports of widespread injuries and mass arrests, including minors.

But that’s not it in terms of demonstrations. There was a follow-up on Wednesday the 19th, in which, once again, thousands gathered outside Congress to demand better pensions for retirees. The march also became a show of support for photographer Pablo Grillo, as his name and image appeared on signs, shirts, and balloons. This time, however, the protest unfolded mostly peacefully thanks to heavy security measures.

On the economic front, the annual inflation rate dropped to 67%, the lowest level since mid-twenty twenty-two. That said, February’s monthly inflation rate slightly increased to 2.4%, from 2.2% in January. The government had hoped inflation would dip below 2%, but analysts expected price pressures to persist. Housing and food saw the biggest price hikes, mainly due to rising rent and meat costs.

Looking ahead, experts predict inflation to hold steady or ease slightly in March, though seasonal expenses like education and fresh produce could push up some prices. For twenty twenty-five overall, analysts forecast inflation could decline to 23%—still above the government’s target of 18%.

On that note, The Wall Street Journal reported that Argentina’s economic recovery under President Milei is stalling, with key reforms and progress likely delayed until after October’s mid-term elections. Analysts stress that sustained recovery will require deeper reforms and structural stability, but with fragile achievements and political resistance, Argentina’s “economic miracle” remains uncertain.

So, when are the midterms taking place? On Sunday, the 26th of October. For the first time since twenty eleven, there will be no primaries, so you only need to mark one date in your calendar. The electoral process kicks off in April with voter registration, while parties have until August to finalize alliances and candidates.

The political landscape remains highly fractured, with deep divisions within Milei’s party, Peronism, and the conservative PRO.

An example of this is how Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, the former Buenos Aires Mayor, left the PRO party he once co-founded to form his own political movement. On Monday the 17th, he announced his political comeback by running for a seat in the city legislature in the local elections on the 18th of May, citing the city’s decay under Jorge Macri, the current Mayor, as his motivation. Larreta criticized the city’s condition, blaming neglect and poor management for dirty streets and a lack of progress.

While he continues to share PRO’s core values, he acknowledged a growing rift with his former ally, Mauricio Macri. Reflecting on his shift from a failed presidential run to local politics, Larreta called it a humbling lesson.

Another important date that you should remember: the CGT, the largest trade union federation, is preparing for a nationwide general strike sometime before the 10th of April. All that journalists know is that they are planning to hold it while steering clear of public holidays and ongoing retiree protests.

In terms of why they are planning a strike, Héctor Daer, the union leader, referenced the government’s justification of police violence as the main issue. The CGT also announced their participation in the march honoring victims of Argentina’s last dictatorship on the 24th of March.

Expect many demonstrations on Monday the 24th. It’s a national holiday that commemorates the victims of the last military dictatorship, meaning places including Plaza de Mayo and the ESMA, the Naval Mechanics School, will become focal points for commemorations, with visits, tributes, and events highlighting the importance of truth and justice.

Human rights organizations like Madres de Plaza de Mayo and Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo lead marches demanding justice for the desaparecidos, the forcibly disappeared.

In other news, Congress is gearing up for a tense few weeks as lawmakers scrutinize Milei’s handling of the $LIBRA crypto rug pull case and his controversial Supreme Court appointments. While the opposition lacks enough votes to launch a full investigation into $LIBRA, a commission will review Milei’s involvement, and lawmakers may summon top officials for questioning.

Meanwhile, the Senate could also reject Milei’s attempt to bypass legislative approval for Supreme Court nominees.

On Wednesday the 12th, the Lower House approved President Milei’s decree to secure a new deal with the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, despite having no details on the loan amount or conditions. The vote passed with 129 in favor and 108 against, sparking outrage among opposition lawmakers. Critics argue that the deal, which will be used to pay back the Central Bank, still constitutes new debt and lacks the broad political support the IMF usually requires. Meanwhile, the government defended the move, saying it would reduce public debt and stabilize the economy.

The government also rolled out changes to the Traffic Law, introducing a nationwide digital driver’s license. The new rules, published in a decree, also tweak vehicle inspections—new cars get a five-year grace period before their first mandatory check, while vehicles over ten years old must renew their inspection yearly.

The government scrapped a certification for auto parts to cut costs. It also set regulations for autonomous vehicles and added new road signs for railway crossings. Lastly, provinces can now issue professional licenses for truck and passenger transport drivers. Previously, these drivers were required to obtain a national certification for interjurisdictional transport.

There’s also a plan to slash import tariffs on textiles, which made the clothing industry sound the alarm, warning it could wipe out thousands of jobs and local businesses. Industry groups slammed the move as a massive blow to domestic production, arguing it gives unfair advantages to cheap imports from countries with lower labor costs. They also accused the government of failing to deliver on promises to cut taxes and ease financial pressures on local manufacturers. Without policies to level the playing field, they say this decision will drain public revenue, weaken formal employment, and push the country further into deindustrialization.

Now, football fans, you’ll want to hear this: Argentina is set to face Uruguay and Brazil this month in the World Cup qualifiers. Catch the action on Friday the 21st when they take on Uruguay in Montevideo. Then, mark your calendars for Tuesday the 25th as the national team goes head-to-head with Brazil at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

Unfortunately, Lionel Messi will be sitting out this time due to an adductor injury. He broke the news on Instagram, expressing his disappointment about missing these two big games but stressing the importance of taking time to recover.

For music fans, Lollapalooza Argentina is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a massive three-day festival at the Hipódromo de San Isidro this weekend. From the 21st to Sunday the 23rd of March, over 100 artists will perform across five stages. Headliners include Justin Timberlake on Friday, Shawn Mendes on Saturday, and Olivia Rodrigo closing things out on Sunday. Beyond the music, Lollapalooza offers a full experience with food, interactive activities, exclusive merch, and eco-friendly initiatives.

Tickets are still available on the website.

Aaand that’s it for this week! Thank you for joining us!

Did you know that you can send an episode as an MP3 file? You can download it directly from our website: www.rorshok.com/argentina. The link’s also in the show notes.

¡Nos vemos la próxima semana!