Argentina spends $50 million weekly on police crackdown of pensioner protests

An analysis by the Centre for Legal and Social Studies (CELS) found that the government of President Javier Milei allocates at least 1,000 federal police officers and more than $50 million each Wednesday to disperse pensioner demonstrations in Buenos Aires. The report states that in 2025 the authorities carried out 43 operations, costing over $2 billion in total, with the weekly figure representing a conservative estimate that excludes fuel, equipment and other logistical expenses.

The data shows an average deployment of 900 to 1,200 officers per protest, highlighting the scale of state resources devoted to suppressing the retirees’ demand for higher pensions. CELS officials warn that the true cost is likely higher, as the government has only disclosed spending on certain items such as fuel for the Prefecture, Gendarmería and the Federal Penitentiary System.