Argentine government will bill protesters for security costs at the Milea march

Protesters in the Plaza de Mayo in Buenos Aires during the first demonstration against the new government of Javier Miley Photo: AFP/Juan Mabromata < p >Organizers of the first protest against Argentine President Javier Miley's economic reforms will have to cover the cost of security for the demonstration, the government said.

Thousands of people marched in Buenos Aires on Wednesday to protest against Mr. on Mileya and the memory of the deadly 2001 protests that followed the country's economic crisis.

Government spokesman Manuel Adorni said the intensive deployment of police, paramilitary and riot control forces would cost 60 million pesos, or approximately £57,500 at official exchange rates.

“The bill will be sent to parliament. social movements» who are «responsible for costs that should not be borne by citizens», he said.

Mr Miley's government seeks to crack down on hundreds of annual demonstrations that create traffic jams in the capital. and also threatens to deprive those who block roads of social assistance.

Organizers criticized the large-scale security demonstration as an attempt at provocation.

«It reminds me of the dictatorship» of 1976-1983, said Eduardo Belliboni, leader of the leftist Polo Obrero movement.

It reminds me of the dictatorship of 1976-1983.

It reminds me of the dictatorship of 1976 -1983.

p> Protesters during a demonstration against the new presidential measures in front of the National Congress in Buenos Aires Photo: AFP/Luis Robayo

The security operation was led from police headquarters by Patricia Bullrich, the security minister, television footage showed.

Mr Miley earlier this week signed an emergency presidential decree lifting export restrictions and taking other steps to deregulating Argentina's weak economy.

The omnibus order contains more than 300 measures and must be sent to a legislative bicameral commission, and if the commission finds the order constitutional, it will remain in force unless both houses of Congress vote on it.

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“The goal is to begin the path to rebuilding our country, restoring freedom and autonomy to the people and beginning to transform the vast array of regulations that have blocked, stunted and stunted economic growth in our country,” Mr. Miley said.

The president, who promised economic “shock therapy,” told local media on Thursday that the measures were “unfriendly” but necessary to correct macroeconomic imbalances. The country is struggling with a recession, triple-digit annual inflation and rising poverty rates.

Measures announced so far include a decision to devalue the peso by 50 percent, cut export regulations and close some government ministries.

The march through the Argentine capital was organized by left-wing parties. groups on Wednesday afternoon in anticipation of Mr. Miley's announcement.

People took to the streets in protest and staged » cacerolazo”: they banged pots and pans against the president’s new policy. Photo: Anadolu

Marchers headed to Buenos Aires' iconic Plaza de Mayo, a site of protests dating back to the country's 1970s dictatorship.

Some protesters blocked streets to traffic, a common form of protest in in recent years.

Later in the evening, residents of some areas of the capital showed their dissatisfaction with the emergency decree by banging pots and pans on balconies.

After winning the election in October, Mr. Miley, a former economist who advocates radical deregulation said he would allow the protests. but warned that his administration would cut welfare benefits to anyone blocking streets.

Protesters “can demonstrate as many times as they want. They can go into the squares… but the streets will not be closed,” Security Minister Ms. Bullrich told local media.

Polls show that about two-thirds of Argentines agree that the country should be tougher on street violence blockade