Peronist and left-wing lawmakers interrupted an address by Chief of Staff Guillermo Francos in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday, leaving their seats in objection to the police crackdown on retirees outside the house. The abrupt exodus of around 100 deputies meant that the session fell through.

Police were using tear gas, pepper spray, and batons to thwart a demonstration spearheaded by retirees protesting against Javier Milei’s presidential veto on a pension increase that was approved by both chambers. The vetoed formula, which was going to set a minimum stipend of 109% of the basic food basket, would have increased retirees’ monthly payments by AR$15,000 (US$15.1 at the official rate, US$11.7 at the MEP rate) to AR$321,600 (US$324.4 at the official rate, US$251.3 at the MEP rate).

Francos, who was doing a legally mandated administration report (he was set to answer 2,135 questions from the lawmakers), defended Milei’s veto on the increase.

“The sanction of the bill that establishes modifications to the pension mobility system is not a mature and responsible act,” Francos said during his presentation. “It establishes exorbitant expenses without the corresponding budgetary item. It is an expense that, due to its cumulative effect, would increase year after year, condemning the country to more emissions, debt, inflation, and poverty.”

According to a report by the Congress’ Budget Office, the update would have implied spending 0.45% of the country’s GDP over the year. In an interview, Milei said the extra spending would be 62% of GDP, but making calculations “in perpetuity.” 

Francos highlighted the president’s mega-decree and the approval of his flagship reform project known as the Ley Bases and the fiscal package in June. 

“The Ley Bases, together with the mega-decree and the fiscal package, gives freedom back to the Argentine people, promotes private activity, attracts investments, and generates jobs,” said Francos. “Where there was uncertainty, now there is legal certainty, predictability, and stability for those who produce. Where there used to be governmental maneuvering, now there’s certainty that the rules of the game will not be changed for investors.”

One of the questions that Francos answered was the total expenses of Milei’s numerous trips abroad in his first nine months as President. In the written report he sent to the deputies ahead of the presentation, the Chief of Staff said those trips cost AR$2.3 billion (US$2.3 million at the official rate, US$1.8 million at the MEP rate).

Media showed that, outside Congress, national security forces such as the Naval Police and Federal Police, as well as the City Police, were participating in the crackdown.

Images of people sitting on fences on the sidewalk, their eyes closed and their faces burning from the pepper spray, circulated on social media. One of them was interviewed by the C5N TV channel. When asked if he had been hit, he answered negatively. “No, because they are cowards — they are hitting the oldest people.”

Speaking with media outlets outside Congress, the chief of the emergency operation said that they treated 27 people and two were transferred to the José María Ramos Mejía General Hospital. He added that eight journalists were affected by the pepper spray.

“It is impossible to continue in session with the Chief of Staff while retirees are being repressed in front of Congress. It is incomprehensible that such a peaceful demonstration ends with this repression. [Security Minister] Patricia Bullrich wrecked the session in the Chamber of Deputies with Guillermo Francos”, Germán Martínez, head of the Peronist bloc, said on X.

The designated speakers of the bloc refrained from asking their questions and the session ended prematurely. Minutes before, left-wing deputies from Frente de Izquierda had already left the chamber to join the march outside.

Last Wednesday, retirees had held another march faced similar violent reprisals from security forces. When asked about it on Thursday during his usual press conference, Presidential Spokesman Manuel Adorni minimized what had happened. “We must not be afraid of repression,” he said. “You have to be afraid of those who break the law. We comply with the law and with everything that has to be done within the protocol to maintain order.”