Argentines in droves in the streets against a deal with the IMF

paying the debt IS an adjustment. At the end of the day on Saturday, banners, slogans and songs from radical left organizations, students, unions, invaded the Plaza de Mayo, historical theater of the joys and anger of the country, at the foot of the Casa Rosada, the presidential palace.

Between brass bands, smoke, deafening firecrackers, smoke from parillas (grills) installed in the street, the International Monetary FundIMF was targeted, but also the center-left government, accused of agreeing to reorganize its debt of 44 billion dollars due by 2024. And as a corollary, to comply with increased budgetary rigor, in a country which already has 40% of poor people.

It is horrible to see children with stomachs swollen from hunger in hospitals. It exists today in Argentina!, told AFP in contained anger Aña Cristina Jaime, 70, without party, but heart on the left.years, it starts again, we are “sold ” in IMF (…) the only option I see is not to pay, but to track the capital fleeing abroad. Let those pay! “,” Text “:” Every 8-9 years, it starts again, we are “sold ” to the IMF (…) the only option I see is not to pay, but to hunt capital fled abroad. Let those pay! “}}”>Every 8-9 years, it starts again, we are “sold” to the International Monetary FundIMF […], the only option I see is not to pay, but to hunt down capital fleeing abroad. Let those pay!

A protester with a revamped poster on the International Monetary Fund.

Photo: Reuters / MARIANA NEDELCU

Throughout the week, an Argentinian delegation (government and central bank) held meetings in Washington with a team from the International Monetary FundIMF. By the end of the year, the executive must present to parliament a multi-year economic program which would have the backing of the Fund.

Result of the interview round: further discussion are needed before an agreement, announced the International Monetary FundIMF in a press release on Friday.

On Friday evening, an even larger crowd had already gathered on the Plaza de Mayo, this time made up of sectors close to the Peronist government, to celebrate in music the 38th anniversary of the return to democracy in Argentina after the dictatorship (1976-1983).

Alongside President Alberto Fernandez, former Brazilian heads of state Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (likely presidential candidate in 2022) and Uruguayan José Grandpa Mujica.

Evening theme: nostalgia for, according to Lula, the best time for democracy in South America, when center-left, socialist or bolivarian, ruled from Santiago to Caracas, in the first decade of the 21st century.

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, ex-president of Brazil, José Mujica, ex-president of Uruguay and Alberto Fernández, president of Argentina, on Friday evening in Buenos Aires to celebrate the 38th anniversary of the return to democracy in Argentina after the dictatorship (1976-1983).

Photo: Getty Images / Marcos Brindicci

But there again, no mystery about the bête noire, guest obliged to all the speeches: the International Monetary FundIMF. Ovation assured when Alberto Fernandez launched that Argentina adjustments [structurels] belongs to history and a refund will not come at the expense of health, public education, wages, pensions.

Even if, he was careful to state, we will assume the obligations taken by others, namely the loan taken out by his predecessor Mauricio Macri (2018).

Even stronger ovation, when the always popular Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, Head of State from 2007 to 2015 and current vice-president, denounced a International Monetary FundIMFwhich for a long time conditioned life in Argentina. And almost called out to Fernandez IMF helps us recover billions of dollars that Argentina does not lack, no, but (that Argentines have) taken to tax havens! Let this be a point of negotiation with the Fund. “,” Text “:” May the IMF help us recover billions of dollars that Argentina does not lack, no, but (that Argentines have) taken to places tax heavens! Let this be a point of negotiation with the Fund. “}}”>that the International Monetary FundIMF helps us recover billions of dollars that Argentina does not lack, no, but [que des Argentins ont] taken to tax havens! Let this be a point of negotiation with the Fund.

The calendar sees these negotiations converge with the anniversary of the Great crisis of December 2001: the social explosion of an Argentina then stuck between capital flight and liquidity crisis, after years of austerity plans at the request of the International Monetary FundIMF, resulted in riots, looting, violence, around forty deaths and lasting trauma.

I remember 2001 well, the looting of a supermarket on the corner of my street, it was people without work, it was hunger, told the demonstration on Saturday Juan Soto, a 30-year-old market gardener. IMF) is that there is an adjustment. But who “fits ” ? The workers, the poor. Those coming out of a pandemic where there have already been so many jobs lost? “,” Text “:” History repeats itself, you know. If there is an agreement (with the IMF), it is because there is an adjustment. But who “fits “? The workers, the poor. Those coming out of a pandemic where there have already been so many jobs lost? “}}”>History repeats itself, you know. If there is agreement (with the International Monetary FundIMF) is that there is an adjustment. But who “adjusts”? The workers, the poor. Those coming out of a pandemic where there have already been so many jobs lost?