Milei was elected on a message of brutal cuts and shock therapy for the crisis-ridden Argentine economy.
While protests, some violent between police and demonstrators, took place outside the parliament in Buenos Aires, it turned out that the members who wanted to override the president's veto did not succeed. A majority wanted to push through the increase, but they did not get enough members on their side – a two-thirds majority was required.
The parliament wanted to compensate pensioners in a country with an annual inflation rate of 237 percent, something Milei promised to break. In August, the inflation rate was down to 4.2 percent measured over a month, compared to over 25 percent when he took office in December 2023.
The average pension is approximately 230 dollars, less than 2,400 kronor per month, and Milei's shock therapy is palpable for Argentines without greater resources.
Milei claimed that the increase is against the law and that those behind it do not have any financing.
One thing that has annoyed citizens who have protested against Milei's pension veto is that he simultaneously, through decree, has pushed through an increase in allocations to the security service by 700 percent, or approximately 100 million dollars, without giving reasons for it.
