Violent protests erupted in Buenos Aires as Argentina’s Senate debated a bill central to President Javier Milei’s economic reforms.

Thousands gathered outside the Congress building on Wednesday to oppose the austerity measures in the proposed legislation.

Initially peaceful with barbecues and songs, the protest turned violent in the afternoon as riot police used tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse the crowd.

Several opposition lawmakers, including Juan Manuel Pedrini, were hospitalized for burns, Al-Jazeera has reported.

The Union for the Homeland, an opposition party, condemned the police repression as a “sad day for Argentinian democracy.”

The government cited violent actions by some protesters, reporting 18 arrests and incidents of rock-throwing, stick-wielding, and arson, including a car fire.

Waldo Wolff, Buenos Aires’ minister of justice and security, mentioned that one individual was found with a grenade.

Written by B.C. Begley