BUENOS AIRES - On the 5th, disability organizations and citizens in Argentina held a large-scale protest in front of the National Congress in Buenos Aires. They strongly protested President Javier Milei's veto of a bill to increase disability support funds and called for the government to withdraw its disability support policies.
President Milei's veto nullified the 'Disability State of Emergency Proclamation Bill,' which passed Congress on July 10. The bill was intended to declare a state of emergency for disability until the end of 2027 and to increase funds for disability care, education, and treatment support. However, the Milei government vetoed the bill, stating that it could harm fiscal balance. The Presidential Office claimed that the decision was an inevitable choice for the nation's financial health, arguing that "Congress irresponsibly passed the bill without specifying the source of funding."
Approximately 300 protesters gathered in front of the National Congress from all over the city. They criticized the government's policies, shouting slogans such as "Guarantee the rights of people with disabilities" and "Withdraw the veto." Protesters in wheelchairs and those with mobility challenges attempted to block traffic, and police and gendarmerie were deployed to disperse the demonstrators. Unlike usual, there was no forced suppression, but some pushing and shoving occurred with the police. Despite this, the protesters held their ground and continued their demonstration.
Protesters Criticize the Government
Jose Enrique Montenegro, a member of a disability center in the La Matanza region, who participated in the protest, found himself surrounded by police while in his wheelchair. He countered the government's claims, stating, "People with disabilities are not the ones creating the nation's fiscal deficit. We are demanding rights guaranteed by the constitution." Montenegro emphasized that "the law should take effect immediately so that people with disabilities can receive help from the state."
Mariana Bocchio, the head of the civic organization 'Kaleidoscopio' in Villa Luro, also criticized the government's decision, saying it strips people with disabilities of their rights. Bocchio pointed out that "Milei's veto makes it impossible to continue the necessary support for people with disabilities." As the head of a special education institution, she expressed the difficulties on the ground, saying, "More and more parents and families of children with disabilities are asking for help, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to provide them with appropriate services."
This protest clearly shows the impact of the Milei government's austerity policies on vulnerable social groups. As the conflict deepens between a government that prioritizes fiscal health and the disability community that feels their right to survival is threatened, attention is focused on what changes this situation will bring to Argentina's social policies in the future.
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