Argentina's opposition parties unite to call for 'Food Emergency' amid growing protests
Lawmakers from various opposition parties have formally presented a request for a special session in the lower house to discuss the declaration of a "Food Emergency" in Argentina.
Politicians from across the opposition agreed Monday to unify their legislative drafts on the topic into a single bill, in a bid to ensure that House Speaker Emilio Monzó will move forward with an emergency session.
A Food Emergency declaration, the first since 2002, would increase federal nutrition assistance spending by 50% over already budgeted figures, from 16 billion pesos ($275 million) to 24 billion pesos ($412 million) and would remain in effect until the end of 2022.
The bill, co-sponsored by 15 center-left legislators, reportedly has majority support in both houses of Congress - but may be vetoed by President Mauricio Macri, who has expressed opposition to the measure.
Macri, who's seeking re-election despite job approval of 25%, lost the first round on August 11 to center-left candidate Alberto Fernández by 16% and may lose the second round by at least 20% according to recent polls; Fernández has pledged to sign the bill should he be elected.
Macrisis
The legislative push follows days of demonstrations by social activists and labor unions.
A protest camp organized six days ago in front of the Ministry of Health and Social Development was violently dispersed by police today, leading to several injured protesters.
Activists regrouped this evening, however, and will continue their protest camp.
Poverty has increased since Macri took office four years ago - rising from an estimated 27% in 2015 to a projected 40% this year.
Amid 54% inflation, the National University of Avellaneda (UNDAV) estimates that hunger now affects 10% of the population - up from 4.8% in 2017 and 6.7% last year.
The FAO had declared chronic hunger in Argentina "erradicated" in 2015.
Socioeconomic conditions have worsened since the April 2018 collapse of a carry-trade debt bubble known locally as the "financial bicycle," which forced Macri to turn to the IMF for a record, $57 billion bailout.
"If there's a state of siege they should let us know," activist Eduardo Belliboni, who was injured in today's incidents, said, "because it should be declared against those ferreting the money out of the country - not against those asking for a plate of food."
At: https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/argentina/opposition-unites-to-call-for-food-emergency-session-amid-more-protests.phtml
An injured protester is assisted during today's violent dispersal of a protest camp in front of the Social Development Ministry.
Congressional opposition parties have joined calls by social activists to declare a "food emergency" in Argentina - the first since financial deregulation policies similar to Macri's led to the country's 2002 collapse.
Macri has indicated he'll veto the legislation.
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Hope he's not going to tell his police to get more vicious than they have already been.
Whichever cop went after the protester in the photo above didn't hold back. What kind of idiot would even consider hitting someone's head like that with a blunt instrument? Absolutely uncivilized.
The young man with the two protesters looks shocked, as surely he has never seen anyone doing that to someone else.
The activist quoted, Eduardo Belliboni, was write to point out the people doing wrong are those who have put Argentina into this chaotic state in an amazingly short time, and not those asking for relief for the victims.
Eduardo Belliboni doesn't exactly look like anyone who deserves a good beating, either.
The protesters are the courageous ones, not the bullies hiding behind their badges, or those ordering the bullies to intimidate them.
Looks as if Macri is too committed to wielding power to defer now to the interests of the people. What a shame.
There are now 35,000 active soup kitchens in the country - most of them small, but now running at or above capacity.
This, in a country that produces over 4% of the world's food (seven times what it's own population requires).
Macri's official position is that "there's no hunger in Argentina" - something his running mate, Miguel Pichetto, repeated even today (he's often referred to as Fachetto - the 'little fascist').
But you'll be happy to know the Food Emergency bill passed the Lower House today almost unanimously: 222 yeas, to 1 abstention and 33 'absences' (mostly Macri's people, who didn't want to go on the record voting against this very popular legislation).
Some of those listed as "absent" were actually there - and had themselves listed as absent nonetheless (!). Notably Fernando Iglesias - the Louie Gohmert of Argentina, if you will.
There he is, at right with glasses, glaring at one of his own fellow Macristas for supporting the bill:
Would not have thought that level of general silliness couldn't be repeated. He's so theatrical, making sure everyone sees how much he resents a party member voting for the best interests of human beings.
What a shame there has been such suffering already that 35,000 soup kitchens have been needed... It's also so good to know there are so many people attempting to save the lives of their neighbors who were probably doing so much better before Macri. Real love for their fellow Argentinians. They have to realize they are probably keeping people from starving by now. Such an important undertaking.
I recall reading soup kitchens were also desperately needed in the U.S. during the Great Depression in the U.S.A.
Went to find a photo of a soup kitchen from that era, this one popped up in a search immediately:
followed by this one:
(It occurs that learning they are the subject of photographs of a soup kitchen is probably embarrassing to those men.)
They are both photos of Al Capone's soup kitchen! Who knew he did things like this? Reminds a person of Pablo Escobar, doesn't it?
Hope the news is out all over Argentina concerning how hard the poor have been hit by Macri. Hope they will all care enough to vote.