A violent clash erupted in Buenos Aires between leftist groups and Barras Bravas over government pension reforms, leading to widespread chaos and detentions.
The Unfolding Chaos
In a city known for its vibrant culture, Buenos Aires witnessed unparalleled violence as leftist groups and aggressive soccer fan factions took to the streets. Initially intended as a peaceful protest for pension rights, the assembly became violent, resulting in over 120 detentions. Among the detained were individuals with serious criminal records, highlighting underlying tensions.
Tensions boil over in Buenos Aires as protests against President Milei’s economic policies erupt into clashes, with police firing tear gas and restricting stadium access for those involved.#nocomment pic.twitter.com/Vw3hUvPE51
— NoComment (@nocomment) March 13, 2025
The protest moved from a peaceful march to one filled with chaos as participants clashed with law enforcement. The use of rubber bullets, tear gas, and hydrant trucks by police attempted to restore order. Officials reported significant damage, including two burned police vehicles and vandalism to public property.
Legal and Political Repercussions
The situation brought Argentina’s legal system to the forefront. Despite prior convictions, many detainees were released under a judge’s order citing constitutional rights. Political figures expressed outrage, with security forces vowing to dismantle the disruptive networks responsible for the violence to restore civil peace.
Burning cars, tear gas and water cannons: More than 50 people were injured during mass protests in Buenos Aires, Argentine against pension cuts. Hundreds of elderly people took to the streets, joined by football fans. pic.twitter.com/MKG6UO3f4Q
— sean (@Gykiwi03) March 13, 2025
“We arrested a hundred violent picketers, militants of political groups, and ‘barras bravas,’ who are members of criminal organizations that have been operating with total impunity for years. With the new Anti-Mafia Law, the more than 100 detainees face sentences of up to 20 years in prison,” said Security Minister Patricia Bullrich.
Argentina’s Security Minister announced the potential for severe punishments under an Anti-Mafia law aimed at quelling the uprising and ensuring accountability. Meanwhile, government leaders condemned the protests as attempts to destabilize the current administration, pointing to their organization and aggression as threats.
Consequences and Future Actions
Buenos Aires’s Chief of Government intends to file a judicial complaint against those involved in the unrest, emphasizing zero-tolerance for violence and lawlessness. This approach underscores a broader commitment to reinforcing law and order amidst spiraling tensions.
“That generated the riots that we all saw yesterday. The use of violence as an instrument, and later, based on what was generated with that violence and the response of the security forces, generated this march, also totally organized, to the cry that ‘they should all go away,’ a cry that was used so many times, that in the end what is intended is a kind of coup d’état.” – Guillermo Francos.
Given the unrest, authorities stress the importance of dismantling and countering organized extremist groups to restore Buenos Aires’s sense of security and ensure similar incidents do not escalate. Enhanced vigilance aims to prevent any recurrence and maintain tranquility.
