Public transport strikes transport in Argentina

A general strike against public spending cuts in Argentina has severely disrupted transportation.

All local trips were canceled, while trains and metro services were suspended in Buenos Aires and other parts of the country.

Many stores remained closed in the capital, but bus drivers continued to work. Airlines said that international flights will continue as planned, with a few delay.

This is the third general strike that strong unions called for Argentina since President Javier Millie took office at the end of 2023.

Since then, the President has made difficult austerity measures to treat excessive inflation. His plan has worked so far, with inflation from more than 200 % to about 60 % per year. But unions say that the most vulnerable in society has been affected, including retirees and low -wage workers.

Milei cut support for transportation, fuel and energy, and launched tens of thousands of public officials and closed government departments.

Hurasio Bianchi, a retired teacher who lives in Buenos Aires, said the Associated Press news agency was suffering because they “had no enough money to eat.”

“These people (the government) came to solve problems and exacerbate them completely to all,” he added.

On Wednesday, workers joined a weekly protest designed by retirees who saw pension funds. In recent weeks, their protests have ended in violence as sympathetic groups, such as football fans, clashed with the police.

Protesting measures come at a time when the Argentine government is waiting for whether it will get a new loan worth 20 billion dollars (15.4 billion pounds) from the International Monetary Fund.

The country is already debating the lender 44 billion dollars.

US Treasury “Argentina has returned the economic forgetfulness,” Miley said.

US Treasury Secretary, Scott Beesen, will travel to Buenos Aires on Monday to support reforms.