Eating like a retiree: Amnesty International invited the “87 heroes” to dinner for $781

He Government celebrateda week ago, a barbecue where he invited the 87 deputies who protected the presidential veto in Congress, where each guest had to pay the cost of the dinner out of their own pocket: $20,000. Now, the repercussions of the government’s celebration continue and Amnesty International launched a campaign and invited the 87 legislators to a “Dinner for Retirees to protest against the situation of retirement benefits.

The dinner will then have a budget of $781.80, taking as a reference the income of a person who receives the minimum pension of $234,540.23. “With this in mind, the “Retirees’ Dinner” will have a menu adapted to this reality so that the Deputies can experience first-hand what they themselves voted for,” the press release stated.

Amnesty’s invitation to deputies

The strong campaign of Amnesty International aims to criticize and protest against the veto dictated by Javier Milei against the bill for the reform of retirement benefits, which provided for an extra income of 8.1% of retirement. In addition, the proposal puts the spotlight on the role of 87 deputies invited to the celebratory barbecueorganized by the government, which took place last Tuesday in the Olive Farm.

On that occasion, according to the presidential spokesman Manuel Adornieach diner paid for their plate of food and drink by card. Thus, participating in the invitation had a cost of $20,000 pesos per person.

“The government still does not understand ‘where the lack of empathy is’, the institution assured. “Amnesty International called the 87 deputies to a dinner closer to the reality of more than 5 million retirees who receive a minimum pension of $234,540.23.”

In detail, Amnesty invites legislators to dinner for $781.80, a close reality for more than 5 million retirees who receive a minimum pension of just over $200,000. In addition, according to the organization’s calculations, a retiree spends 30% of his or her income, approximately $70,362, on monthly food.

Mariela Belski, executive director of Amnesty International Argentina, concluded: “The government is deepening the fiscal adjustment it has been carrying out with one of the groups most in need. Denying a meager increase to those with poverty-level incomes is not only unacceptable: it is cruel. In a context of crisis, the Argentine State must put people and their rights at the centre of decision-making. Retirees must have access to essential goods and services that guarantee them an adequate standard of living.”

The barbecue at Quinta de Olivos

Milei entertained last Tuesday night with a barbecue at the Olive Farm to the 87 deputies who protected the veto on pension reformThe president acted as host at the presidential residence, while a protest by retirees was taking place outside.

In this context, he asked them for unity from now on.Let’s all do a scrum together“, said the Head of State when speaking from the official residence.

Among those present were: pro-government legislatorsthe members of the PRO bloc and a group of radicalsalthough, according to what this media was able to find out, four of the five UCR deputies who contributed to turning the result in the chamber were absent. In this case, it was only Mariano Campero who agreed to be at the barbecue..

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Each deputy had to pay $20,000 to eat.

On the Government’s side, in addition to the President and of his sister Karina They also participated in Chief of Staff, Guillermo Francos; the head of the Chamber of Deputies, Martin Menem; the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrichand the spokesman Manuel Adorniamong others. Representing the ruling party were Alberto “Bertie” Benegas Lynch, Oscar Zago and Carolina Piparo, all from the Libertad Avanza (LLA) party, as well as Cristian Ritondo, Fernando Iglesias, Silvia Lospennato, Diego Santilli and Hernán Lombardi, among other representatives of the PRO.

Inside roast, outside casserole:

Prior to the start of the barbecue with the deputies, hundreds of retirees gathered at the door of the presidential residence to express their rejection of the veto dictated by Mileic in rejection of the increase in their salaries. In this sense, the protesters – residents of the neighborhood and from different points of the City of Buenos Aires and the Conurbano – began to protest with pots and pans and flags.

“It is a humiliation to the people“, declared one of the citizens present regarding the dinner that took place inside the Quinta de Olivos from 8:30 p.m.

At the demonstration, various signs could be read, including one that said: “‘We are all retirees, it’s a matter of time.'” It was precisely the owner of the symbol who claimed: “34 years of genuine contributions, I gave my life to this country, I never asked for anything.” And today I find myself in this shameful situation of going out to defend my rights. It hurts me as an Argentine and it hurts me for your future.“What is happening at Quinta de Olivos is a mockery, a provocation,” he said in conversation with C5N.

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Outside the Quinta de Olivos, hundreds of people demonstrated against the measure and the celebration.

Another person present said: “I think that this Government is leading us to misery and the ruin of the country. Many people will be left hanging. What is happening inside the Quinta de Olivos is just another piece of rubbish. In the face of any of these things, We have to demonstrate, at least. It is an act of dignity.“.

In the same vein, one of the self-convened protesters joined in, told her story and strongly criticized the legislators: “I came because I am retired. While they are eating barbecue there, we are not eating anything today. They vetoed a miserable raise that they were going to give us. They take 9 million pesos a month, why don’t they ban that? They have no shame, they have no respect.“There are days when I don’t eat, because if I eat I don’t buy the medicine,” she lamented.

Finally, an 80-year-old woman said: “We are here for a simple reason: to protest and denounce the deputies who sold out. 87 deputies who today are going to eat a delicious barbecue at our expense.What are they coming to celebrate?? ?What did they take from us, 16,000 pesos a month? I didn’t work 30 years to earn 234,000 pesos“.