Tens of thousands of Argentines protested against President Mauricio Macri’s austerity drive on Tuesday after labor unions began a 24-hour partial strike that brought airports, banks and schools across the country to a standstill. Workers blocked streets in the capital, Buenos Aires, causing massive traffic disruption in the city center. Sweeping government spending cutsThe unions called the strike amid rising opposition to Macri, who last year passed a sweeping program of government spending cuts to combat rapid inflation and a severe currency crisis. It hasn’t managed to sort out the economic situation,” said Juan Arrique, a 32-year-old trucker demonstrating in Buenos Aires, speaking with the Agence France-Presse. Macri’s popularity has fallen steeply since the cuts began, raising doubts about whether he can win reelection in October.

Source: Egypt Independent May 01, 2019 00:56 UTC