BUENOS AIRES: Argentine lawmakers on Thursday passed a motion to boost pensions that the government of libertarian President Javier Milei had heavily criticised out of concerns that it would threaten the state’s fiscal surplus.
The opposition-controlled Senate backed the pension reform, with 52 votes in favour and four abstentions. The lower chamber of congress had already passed the bill.
Milei has vowed to veto a hike in pensions and already did so in a similar move last year. Since taking office, he’s slashed public spending in a bid to wrangle inflation under control, though the austerity drive has also hit workers.
Retirees have launched weekly protests in capital Buenos Aires to demand adjustments to their pension payments, occasionally facing off with police.