Pensioners and football hooligans have clashed with police during protests against Javier Milei's austerity measures

A protest outside Argentina's Congress, where retirees and football hooligans came together to oppose President Javier Milei's economic policies, erupted into chaos on Wednesday as police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators, who hurled stones and torched dumpsters, media have reported. 

For weeks, retirees in Buenos Aires have staged weekly protests demanding higher pensions, citing worsening living conditions. While previous demonstrations saw minor clashes, including the use of tear gas against the elderly, Wednesday's protest was the largest and most intense to date, according to observers.

What began as a peaceful demonstration reportedly spiraled into violent clashes, with police deploying water cannons, tear gas, and rubber pellets as protesters responded by throwing stones. A dense cloud of tear gas engulfed the area around the congressional palace, according to local media. Amid the chaos, a police car was set ablaze, and dumpsters across the city were torched.

Videos circulating on social media showed police beating and dragging protesters, including footage of an 87-year-old woman suffering a head injury as bystanders rushed to help her.

Some of the football hooligans reportedly hurled sticks and cans at officers. With an estimated 800 officers deployed, the heavy police presence moved to suppress the demonstration.

At least 200 protesters were injured in the clashes, with 20 hospitalized and more than 100 detained, according to the Buenos Aires Herald.

The Milei government has imposed sweeping public spending cuts since coming to power in late 2023. Budgets for education, health, and public works have been reduced, and subsidies for energy and transportation eliminated.

Retirees have been among the hardest hit by Milei's austerity measures. In January this year, government spending on pensions had dropped by 19% compared to the same month in 2023, according to a report from the Center of Argentine Political Economy (CEPA).

The Milei administration has also eliminated a program that provided free medication, further straining the elderly population.

Nearly 60% of retirees in Argentina reportedly receive the minimum state pension of around $340 (312) per month.