Anti-Kirchner crowd protests in Argentina

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Mon, Dec. 22, 2003

Anti-Kirchner crowd protests in Argentina
Tens of thousands hold the largest antigovernment rally to date against eight-month President Néstor Kirchner.
BY DANIEL A. GRECH
[e-mail]

BUENOS AIRES - Two years after violent protests brought down the government, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Argentina's capital this weekend in the largest demonstration against President Néstor Kirchner since he took office seven months ago.

Though polls show Kirchner enjoys the approval of three quarters of Argentines, the scale and volume of the peaceful antigovernment demonstrations -- most estimates measured close to 50,000 people crowded into the Plaza de Mayo, a historic site for Argentine protest -- promise an end to the honeymoon for the populist president. (snip)

(snip) Adding to the anger was the revelation earlier this month that Argentine congressmen were bribed during the de la Rúa administration to approve an unpopular labor reform law that has been hard on Argentina's working class.

Saturday's protests were of a different quality from those they honored. In 2001, Argentine professionals and business owners banged pots side-by-side with the unemployed to demand in a rare single voice Que se vayan todos'' -- throw them all out.

(snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/7546491.htm