The extended debate over the “Bases Law” will have a new chapter outside the National Congress. This Thursday, from 1 p.m.social organizations grouped in the Union of Workers of the Popular Economy (UTEP), left-wing parties, grassroots unions and picket groups, they will gather to demand that the deputies not vote on the modifications that were introduced to the project, which already had half a sanction from the Lower House before it passed through the Senate, so that it “falls.” From the Ministry of Security, headed by Patricia Bullrich, they recalled that the anti-picket protocol will be enforced “as always” and that at least three federal forces (Gendarmery, Federal Police and Prefecture) will participate in the operation. The City Police will also do it.
The deployment of troops, infantry, special groups, motorized brigades and water hydrant trucks will depend on the number of militants mobilized.
In principle, a lower attendance is expected than on June 12, the date on which it was debated in the Upper House and incidents of extreme violence were recorded around the Legislative Palace. Hooded activists set fire to several cars, one of them Chain 3and they clashed hand-to-hand with police officers.
That day, the surroundings of the National Congress became a battlefield in which Protesters and security forces clashed throughout the afternoon.
Social organizations, picketers, leftists, Peronists, human rights organizations, neighborhood assemblies and unions also demonstrated their rejection of the Base Law that was being debated in the Senate. The objective of the attack was to interrupt the session. They didn’t make it. There were more than 30 detainees, the majority were released by order of Justice. The damage was estimated by the Buenos Aires government at more than 200 million pesos.
The organizations will arrive at Plaza Congreso in a staggered manner. First, the UTEP will do so, made up of delegations from the Evita Movement, the Classist and Combative Current, the Movement of Excluded Workers and Barrios de Pie, among others. Their columns, which will arrive in vans and public transportation, are scheduled at 1:00 p.m.
An hour later the Polo Obrero and other groups of the Piquetera Unit will do so, such as the Front of Organizations in Fight and Free of the South.
Silvia Saravia, national leader of the latter organization, told Infobae who will demonstrate against the parliamentarians because “the Bases Law and the fiscal package that are being debated are frayed with respect to the first intentions of the government of Javier Milei, but they continue to show themselves in favor of enriched sectors, in favor of the sectors of power, and to the detriment of the rights of the popular sectors. In addition, they grant tax benefits to those who will have an extractive profile of our natural resources.”
An hour later, at 3 p.m., supporters of the forces that make up the Left Front, including the MST and the MST-Teresa Vive, will arrive at the corner of Callao and Rivadavia. They plan to hold an “open radio” on the sidewalk that faces Entre Ríos Avenue, in front of Congress. The slogans: “No to the basic law” and “Freedom to political prisoners”, for the six detainees who are still accused of the June 12 riots.
The Polo Obrero, whose main leader is Eduardo Belliboni, also called from 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., although it is likely that the first contingents will arrive earlier. The same will happen with the MST, which usually comes forward to hang the parades in the first line of sight.
Through a statement, several of the organizations calling for the rally stated: “The approval of the law by the deputies would reinforce the government’s deflationary policy, increasing the recession. For workers, the Base Law implies the virtual elimination of labor law, including the end of compensation and the introduction of invoice work, harming collective bargaining and employment contracts. It will be a boost to monotributism and the atomization of the working class, with the collaboration of the union bureaucracy, which has waited until the last moment to oppose it.”
The climate that seems to be experienced among the organizers is different from that of two weeks ago. On that occasion they had publicly expressed their intention to “resist” the anti-picketing protocol and “bring down the Bases Law.” They had also anticipated that the senators who voted in favor of the project promoted by Libertad Avanza would be “traitors to the country.”
Minister Bullrich had also anticipated that the federal forces she commands would not allow themselves to be intimidated and would only prevent the activists from cutting the arteries.
This time, the piquetero leaders decided not to make threats and called, almost silently, through social networks and press releases. They also did not hold the usual press conference to call for the measure at the Buenos Aires Obelisk or in front of the Legislative Palace. The cards in the room seem to be cast in favor of the Government of Javier Milei and his presence around Congress would become almost symbolic. We will have to wait to see how the day evolves. For now, the police presence, at the beginning of the day, will not be numerous to avoid provocations. But they will be attentive a few blocks from the place.
