Fact Check: Las protestas de ayer contra Milei fueron violentas y desestabilizadoras

Fact Check: "Las protestas de ayer contra Milei fueron violentas y desestabilizadoras"

What We Know

Recent protests in Argentina against President Javier Milei have been characterized by varying degrees of violence and unrest. On March 13, 2025, a protest primarily involving retirees escalated into violence, with reports indicating that the police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse demonstrators who were throwing stones. This confrontation resulted in at least 20 injuries and over 120 arrests, highlighting the chaotic nature of the event (BBC News Mundo).

In contrast, a separate protest on December 20, 2023, against Milei's austerity measures was reported to be largely peaceful, with only minor scuffles between protesters and police. The police reported that only one officer was injured, and the protest concluded without significant violence (AP News).

The protests have been fueled by widespread discontent regarding Milei's economic policies, particularly among vulnerable groups such as retirees, many of whom are struggling with austerity measures that have significantly impacted their livelihoods (BBC News Mundo).

Analysis

The claim that the protests were "violent and destabilizing" can be viewed through two lenses based on the events of different dates. The March 13 protest indeed saw significant violence, with police and protesters clashing, resulting in injuries and arrests. This aligns with the assertion of violence in the claim. However, the December 20 protest, while also against Milei's policies, was described as largely peaceful, indicating that not all protests have escalated to violence (AP News).

The reliability of the sources varies. The BBC is generally considered a credible news outlet, providing a detailed account of the March protests and their violent outcomes (BBC News Mundo). The AP News report also offers a balanced view of the December protests, emphasizing the lack of serious violence despite the potential for conflict (AP News).

On the other hand, some sources suggest that the protests could be part of a broader destabilization effort against Milei's government, which raises questions about the motivations behind the protests and the framing of violence (ML Diario). This perspective may introduce bias, as it implies that the protests are not merely grassroots responses to policy but are influenced by external agendas.

Conclusion

The claim that the protests against Milei were "violent and destabilizing" is Partially True. While there was significant violence during the March 13 protest, not all protests against Milei have followed this pattern, as evidenced by the largely peaceful December 20 protest. The context of each protest is crucial in assessing the overall claim, and while violence did occur, it is important to recognize the varying nature of these protests.

Fact Check: Las protestas de ayer contra Milei fueron violentas y desestabilizadoras