ARGENTINA: Hundreds of thousands of Argentines flood the streets of Buenos Aires to protest the government of President Cristina Fernandez

Record ID: 447160

  • Title: ARGENTINA: Hundreds of thousands of Argentines flood the streets of Buenos Aires to protest the government of President Cristina Fernandez
  • Date: 9th November 2012
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (NOVEMBER 8, 2012) (REUTERS) (DUSK/NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MARCHING ON 9 DE JULIO AVENUE AND THE OBELISK VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WITH ANTI-GOVERNMENT SIGNS OBELISK PROTESTERS WITH ARGENTINE FLAG BANNER WITH SYMBOL OF MOURNING PEOPLE UNDER THE FLAG BANNER WITH A SIGN SAYING "YOU CANNOT TOUCH THE CONSTITUTION" VARIOUS OF YOUNG WOMAN BLINDFOLDED HOLDING SCALES OF JUSTICE MAN WITH DUCT TAPE ON MOUTH AND A SIGN READING 'FREEDOM OF THE PRESS' PERSON WITH FACE PAINTED TO RESEMBLE ARGENTINE FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER, JUAN VEOTAS, SAYING: "We travelled more than 100 kilometres to be here. Because we believe we have to be here. We protest openly, and without fighting, without breaking things (vandalising). We think this is the place to be, not sitting in front of a television. We have an opportunity - and we should show it in the voting booth at that time. Thanks." AVENUE 9 DE JULIO AND PEOPLE WITH SIGNS READING 'FREEDOM' WOMAN WITH PURSE PAINTED IN PROTEST AGAINST PRESIDENT CRISTINA FERNANDEZ PROTESTER LUIS PALACIOS BANGING ON POT AVENUE 9 DE JULIO AND PEOPLE WITH SIGNS READING 'FREEDOM' (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROTESTER, LUIS PALACIOS, SAYING: "I'm a patriot, I'm intelligent, and I can no longer stand the lies, the corruption, the insecurity, the crooks." VARIOUS OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, BANGING POTS AND BLOWING HORNS EN ROUTE TO THE CASA ROSADA (SEAT OF ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING ARGENTINE FLAG VARIOUS OF PLAZA DE MAYO AND THE CASA ROSADA ARGENTINE FLAG VARIOUS OF CASA ROSADA LIT UP WITH LIGHTS VARIOUS OF ARGENTINE FLAG HELD UP BY PROTESTERS
  • Embargoed: 24th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4F4P8VMIF89DYUUBTJU5IFCL3
  • Story Text: Banging on pots and pans, holding banners and flags, hundreds of thousands of Argentines flooded the streets of Buenos Aires on Thursday (November 8) to protest against President Cristina Fernandez's interventionist policies and combative style.
    Masses of people gathered around the city's landmark obelisk and other main avenues to march towards the Casa Rosada, the Argentine seat of government.
    High crime, inflation of roughly 25 percent a year, and a possible bid by government allies to reform the constitution to allow Fernandez to run for a third term are also stoking unrest, particularly among middle-class Argentines. Her government has virtually banned dollar purchases and it limited imports this year, worsening a steep economic slowdown.
    "We travelled more than 100 kilometres to be here. Because we believe we have to be here. We protest openly, and without fighting, without breaking things (vandalising). We think this is the place to be, not sitting in front of a television. We have an opportunity - and we should show it in the voting booth at that time. Thanks, " said protester Juan Veotas.
    Protesters in neighbourhoods throughout Buenos Aires waved signs demanding freedom, transparency and an end to crime and corruption. A spokesman for the city's Justice and Security Ministry estimated 700,000 people were rallying in the capital.
    "I'm a patriot, I'm intelligent, and I can no longer stand the lies, the corruption, the insecurity, the crooks," said Luis Palacios.
    The event, known in Argentina as 8N, for the 8th of November, was planned months in advance and was heavily advertised in social media networks.
    The centre-left leader won easy re-election a year ago but her approval ratings have slid since. A recent polly by the Management & Fit consultancy puts her approval rating at 31.6 percent in October, up 1 percentage point from a month earlier, while her rejection rating dipped slightly to 59.3 percent.
    Fernandez's government spends heavily to stoke high economic growth and backs big wage hikes that tend to mirror inflation.
    Supporters claim protesters merely represent middle and upper class frustrations with the left-leaning government and not the population at large.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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