Patricia Bullrich’s offensive against the pickets, a high-risk political decision in a pendular Argentina

The recipe, basically, is the same: a shock policy. The minister’s decision Patricia Bullrich establishing a rigid protocol to regulate social protests and guarantee free transit was part of the same logic that established Javier Milei He barely assumed the Presidency of the National. The offensive against the pickets coincided with other measures that the libertarian government took since the Sunday of the transfer of command.

In just six days in a row, Milei eliminated half of the Ministries that the Kirchnerist management had, raised the price of the dollar more than 100%, eliminated price controls and loosened the leash on gasoline and other markets that the last government tried without success have “stepped on”. He broke with the international partners of the previous administration, such as Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silvarepudiated flirtations with dictators Putin and Ripe and put the Ukrainian on the stage of his inaugural speech Volodomir Zelenskyto Brazilian Jair Bolsonaroand to Spanish Santiago Abascalleader of Vox, the greatest enemy of Pedro Sanchez, the current president of the Spanish government. And he had contact alone with him Chancellor Eli Cohenenvoy of the Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu.

In this pendulum record – of going from one extreme to the other – and almost three decades of absolute tolerance to pickets, Bullrich once again announced a protocol with strict measures to eradicate street closures. It’s not the first time: in the same position but in February 2016 and at the beginning of Mauricio Macri’s government, he announced a similar regime that, due to its impracticability, fell into disuse. There are differences between both moments, apart from the almost 8 years that passed between them: Argentine society is exhausted by chaos, it demands order and there is a president willing to take unpopular measures and assume the risks.

The new protocol was announced ahead of the march that is announced for next Wednesday in memory of the victims of December 19 and 20, the days of anarchy prior to the fall of Fernando De la Rúa. Those driving these demonstrations are ultra-left picketers, who until the Bullrich conference were unable to convince other social movements identified with Peronism to march together.

“With the anti-picketing protocol it seems that we are preparing the mother of all battles. Everyone is going to be watching what we do and what the picketers do. If the operation goes well, it will be the first round and they will try again with more people. “I don’t even want to think if there is some unfortunate event or if an infiltrator does something,” she said last night to Infobae a leader with government responsibilities who was with Bullrich yesterday.

From the announcement made at the headquarters of the Ministry of Security, on Gelly and Obes Street, it emerged that there will be operations by federal forces next Wednesday to prevent the mobilization that picketing organizations such as the Polo Obrero are going to lead from entering the Federal Capital. and other labels that have underground connections with the Kirchnerist world. The deployment will take place on the Pueyrredón and Alsina bridges and train stations, to prevent protesters from entering the city of Buenos Aires.

To coordinate this response, Patricia Bullrich, after the conference that announced the anti-picketing protocol, received the Buenos Aires Chief of Staff, Nestor Grindettito his CABA counterpart, Waldo Wolff, and the chief of the City Police, Diego Kravetzalong with national officials among whom stood out Federico Angelini.

The protocol not only alarmed the picketers, accustomed to friction with the Police of all governments. He also put CGT unions on alert that after four years of inexplicable paralysis – for the first time in 40 years they did not even carry out a single strike, a treatment they did not give to Néstor Kirchner – they are now warming up to protest again, with hype and everything. Even more so, when the government refuses to talk about reopening joint ventures in the midst of an inflationary surge, which more than a flash, turned into an uncontrolled fire.

“I don’t know specifically what you’re referring to.”the spokesperson responded the day before yesterday Manuel Adorniwhen at the morning press conference he was consulted by Infobae on whether they had planned any measures to improve the purchasing power of workers, after the mini Caputo plan, which accelerated the price race, already launched by the electoral measures applied by the previous Kirchner government. There are economists, like Martín Redrado, who speak of inflation in December of no less than 30%. And Minister Caputo himself confirms that the calculation is, at a base, at 1% per day.

The announcement of the limits on demonstrations occurs hours after an economic deregulation decree is announced that will give reasons to unions that are on alert and mobilizing to implement their fighting plans. Public employees are first in that imaginary line: because their salaries will be increased below inflation or because of the layoffs and suspensions of contracts derived from the adjustment, or in the words of Federico Sturzenegger, the “modernization of the State.”

There are also delayed reform bills – which arose from the splitting of the original idea of ​​bringing to Congress an “omnibus law” of biblical dimensions – that could include measures that generate more rejection.

The DNU that between today and Monday will be published in the Official Gazette must be analyzed this year by the Bicameral Commission that analyzes the decrees of necessity and urgency. In the lower house they did not agree on how they will form it and there is the possibility that Peronism with the PRO will snatch from Milei’s deputies the majority that traditionally corresponds to them in that commission, which is known for its importance. as a “government commission”. Peronism rests, because due to Bullrich’s protocol, libertarians will not be able to march against the caste.