General strike, supported by pickets paralyzed Argentina
Two main opposition umbrella trade unions and other organizations protesting Argentina's economic policies paralyzed the country on Tuesday in the first general strike since President Cristina Fernandez took office five years ago.
Organized pickets and demonstrators in the capital Buenos Aires burned tires to block roads and vandalized a handful of the businesses that opened despite the 24-hour work stoppage called by bus drivers, train conductors and port, airline and bank workers.
The general strike - the first to hit Argentina in a decade - follows broad protests held on November 8 over high crime, soaring inflation, corruption and the government's policy response.
Farmers also joined the protest led by Hugo Moyano, a former truck driver once closely linked to Cristina Fernandez but now a leading opposition figure. He wants lower taxes for workers whose purchasing power has been drained by galloping inflation.
“The silence of the streets, the absence of people in the streets, in the shops, in the businesses - this is the voice that the government must hear,” Moyano told reporters, vowing to keep pressing the demands of his CGT labour federation.
The Argentine president’s popularity has tumbled since she easily won re-election last year. Inflation is running at above 25% despite an anaemic economy, according to private economists. The government publishes much lower inflation data long dismissed by the markets as inaccurate.
The strike increases the stakes in the political battle between Moyano and Cristina Fernandez, who condemned the strike and said she would not be swayed on policy.
“Today wasn't a strike. It wasn't even a picket. This was about strong-arm tactics and threats,” she told supporters at a rally. “We cannot bow to extortion.”
Ties between Moyano and the president soured after the death in late 2010 of Nestor Kirchner, Fernandez's husband and predecessor as president.
Moyano's CGT split earlier this year, with his allies re-electing him as leader in a vote rejected by rival union bosses aligned with Cristina Fernandez. The fracture in the umbrella group risks deepening labour unrest as inflation stokes wage demands and the economy is decelerating.
But Cristina Fernandez has not been inactive and the opposition has no candidates or names, so far, to challenge her. So her allies in Congress last month lowered Argentina's voting age to 16 from 18, a change that could help the politically ailing president court the youth vote ahead of 2013 mid-term elections.
”This (strike) was necessary, unfortunately,“ said Eduardo Buzzi, who heads the Argentine Agrarian Federation, which represents small-scale farms. ”There is no way to dialogue. ... This is the most anti-farm government Argentina has ever had.”
The agricultural sector has long quarrelled with Cristina Fernandez over the 35% export tax her government puts on soybean exports and curbs it places on corn and wheat shipments.
Telephone calls went unanswered at the main grains port of Rosario. The usually noisy, truck-jammed entrance to the port of Buenos Aires was still, with activity expected to resume on Wednesday. The local stock and bonds market was also quiet.
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www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/argentina/9692214/Kirchners-popularity-in-freefall-amid-new-mass-protest.html
oh yes it is.
If she isn't careful she will be with him in that monstrosity before she knows what has hit her.
And the don't apologise do they.
Are they connected to Clarin,um?
Cristina was right, this was not a strike but an affront to working people.
All a show by Moyano who can't live without getting his ass kissed by the government.
Cristina will survive this and many more attempts by to destabilize her position. Aquaintences tell me, that if there were an election today, she still will win.
being an American that has never been to Argentina, the news on TV is government run. Don't believe what you think is the truth.
AND
Suzzie go back in your hole.
Just wait until the new protests and demonstration that are in the works!!!!!!!!!!
They will never forget these and cannot deny the news ones in the works to remove asslips kirchner.
“ being an American that has never been to Argentina, the news on TV is government run. Don't believe what you think is the truth.”
WRONG!! I have lived in Argentina and travelled it from Misiones in the North, to Tierra del Fuego in the South. I spent the best time of my life while I was there. I had a chance to experience the culture and learn the history. I made many Friends there with whom I communicate with on a periodic basis. So, how many times have you been to Argentina? Care to discuss a little geography?
WRONG AGAIN!!!The news on TV in Argentina is not Government runned you ......! Only Canal 7 is an official station and I have no access to it. I have TN, which is Clarin group, TeleFe , and C5N. I make a judgement from what I see and hear, The strike was widely unpolular and seen as more of an inconvenience. It was tolerated because Argentines have become accustomed to these events. Those interviewed expressed that people have a right to strike but have no right to threaten businesses that remain open, against those that break the strike, and blocking public passages. I sense a growing resentment against these type of actions by picketers.
From random interviews in neighborhodds, most people expressed that if they had an option, they would have gone to work rather than stay at home, but there was no guarantee that public transport would be available.
Those bus lines that worked decided to shut down their services early fearing for the safety of their employees after Moyano Waffen SS shot at their vehicles and issued threats. Businesses, mainly in the downtown food services, were forced to close down after Moyano storm troopers entered their property and threatened management, workers, clients, and then proceeded to vandalize their property.
The busines district closed down due to concern for their employees safety.
A big black eye for Moyano and a plus for Cristina I would say.
www.telam.com.ar/nota/44634/
Really, a hearsay analysis by a known La Campora troll, who saw it on television, in another country??
I'm convinced !!
:- )
Gosh what a moron.
What can you do if your ship come upon a crew riot ?
At the present time, the company is a government-owned entity under the control of the Secretaría de Comunicación Pública (Communications Ministry)
thats pretty fucking embarrising dont you think Prog???
mouth meet foot lol
How opposition is manifest varies from country to country and how much interference there is from metropolitan countries also varies.But you know that but you are,like an eagle,focused on your prey rather than on maintaining a balanced approach.
That is your normal failure just like yankeeboy the man in on holiday somewhere around Jamaica or such place
Are you filming in Caribbean ?
probably its name is “” The pirates & The plastic queens “”
Laugh.............
its about the argie strike not the USA or UK .
but 14 seems to think argentina has a FREE press,
if that is the case,
then you have nothing to worry about have you.
Other Arg prezs have had way more national strikes anyway, so she's enjoyed relative peace.
Yuleno, is verbosity a learned trait for expected outcomes?
A famous man once said that “brevity is the soul of wit”
we see no boats..
Nov 21st, 2012 - 07:55 pm
“brevity is the soul of wit”
William Shakespeare.
In other words. If you are going to tell a long joke you best make it a good one.
Bit like KFC and her 'government' really.
Why is a fact unlikely?Because it doesn't fit your scenario?If there is discontent it can be addressed or ignored.Dont you think that is true?
“Poppy the support is just over 50% just like the support for O'Bhama in the USA and much more than the gvt in the UK.”
Was the 'poll' taken yesterday or today?
:-D
Why do you believe this is a fact?
Because it fits your fantasy the kirchner is competent?
Who provides these factual stats, Indec?
Do you not believe Argentina has not deteriorated under her myopic rein?
Do you not believe those march and protests?
Will all you trolls only believe it with violence?
Poppy, most likely, there is NO reasoning with Trolls on here like Yuleno.
Other audience or posters on MP need to understand that. Regardless of what Yuleno type Trolls actually think, themselves, they are paid to deny and obscure facts and promote the messages of their employers. They are paid, professional, propagandists.
Their message is consistent though, so it suggests they follow a master directive.
On the other hand, CFK-boosters like Pirat-Hunter ALEX VARGAS, are merely brainwashed “street soldiers” of CFK's personality cult and La Campora.
Those Dumf¥ks probably do believe the La Campora Juvenil. drivel and their faith is unshakable.
I think it gives stability and hope to the bitter and the mentally-ill.
My 2cents - waiting now for a nutjob to deny what I've said,
LOL
lol
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzRhFH5OyHo
Off topic, irrelevant and fictional.
“Nutjob”, right on cue.
:- )
Does this woman put her foot in her mouth EVERY time she opens it?
The people of Argentina are getting fed up with your pathetic, incompetent, neurotic President.
I believe there is a length of rope with her name on it...
What will you say when the 'Dear Leader' is swinging from a lamp post in the Plaza de Mayo?
What I find disturbing is that you are making a claim and do not know how you arrive at that claim.
Others dismiss what they can't substantiate by claiming that some people are trolls of the gvt.They are hinting that it is gvt propaganda that is being posted.However propaganda,information,and support for the gvt is dismissed in this way,and claims are made to contest what they don't like by using guesswork.
Poppy can you return to making considered post as some will be claim that O'Bhama has no support and that he should resign when the tax changes take place.And after all the bankers who caused the problem with the economy,and got themselves rich are not as yet having to pay the money,are they?
Did I every say I could not support my statement......I said proof and unlike you trolls, proof to my is something I can verify via an independent means/source.......not wikipedia or utube like you trolls alwasy quote. Nor even all the news articles in Mercos, BA Herald, La Nacion, Yahoo News, WSJ., CNN Latin America.....All those sources and more report over 50% dissatisfaction with the asshole you elected to destroy argentina.
Stick to the subject Yuleno......your diversion skills are usless, bankers lend money to those who need it, even those who cannot manage credit like argentina. Oh.....did you read about Judge Griesa this morning? It sucks in please were the law cannot be ruled with a suitcase of greenbacks, doesn't it?
Happy Thanksgiving Yuleno.....I need to shower and head to ......it's football and feast all day
On this day of Thanks, I give thanks I am not an Argentine
after all it is the argies on strike, is it not.
You already addressed all of Yuleno's criticisms thoroughly, in your post @24.
It was very well put too.
Hope you had a good Thanksgiving.
It is now “Black Friday”, today. Many people in Canada are streaming across the border to the US, for huge savings at the stores bursting with goods.
(Cocks nose at Yuleno and Nozzy Troll in Mendoza, land of photo-shopped malls)
Ha, ha, ha.
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