Widespread unrest gripped Argentina on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, as social organizations launched a coordinated national day of protest against the administration of President Javier Milei. The demonstrations, which include a corte total en la autopista Rosario-Buenos Aires por una protesta de organizaciones sociales, have paralyzed key transit arteries and led to violent clashes between security forces and demonstrators.
The protests are a direct response to the government’s decision to dismantle state assistance programs, specifically the elimination of the “Volver al Trabajo” (VAT) program. This initiative served as the successor to the former Potenciar Trabajo program. According to reports, the decision by the Ministry of Human Capital to liquidate the VAT program will affect approximately 900,000 beneficiaries verified by Perfil.
The scale of the unrest is significant, with protests replicating in more than 70 localities across the country verified by Perfil. In the capital and surrounding areas, the morning was marked by extreme tension as columns of manifestantes blocked neuralgic points of access to the City of Buenos Aires (CABA), leading to the deployment of federal and city police forces.
Clashes and Repression at Buenos Aires Access Points
The most intense frictions occurred at the Puente Pueyrredón, where the Federal Police and Prefectura used pepper gas and physical force to push back protesters and prevent them from advancing toward Avenida Mitre verified by Perfil. Reports indicate that the situation escalated with manifestantes throwing stones and bottles at the Prefectura verified by Página|12.
Similar scenes of tension were reported at other critical junctions. At Puente Saavedra, the City Police infantry deployed water cannons (camiones hidrantes) to face off against the organizations verified by Perfil. Security forces reported blockages and confrontations at La Noria and the intersection of Ruta 3 and General Paz verified by Yahoo Noticias.
At the Ruta 3 and General Paz intersection, federal forces intervened to prevent the lighting of tires, adhering to the government’s strict “anti-picket” protocol verified by Perfil. Eduardo Belliboni, a prominent leader of the social organizations, criticized the executive branch, stating that the government had acted as if entering the capital city were a crime verified by Perfil.
The Complete of the ‘Volver al Trabajo’ Program
The core of the conflict is the government’s austerity drive, specifically the elimination of the “Volver al Trabajo” (VAT) program. This program was designed to transition beneficiaries from the previous Potenciar Trabajo scheme toward formal employment. The decision to end these benefits is set to become effective on April 9, 2026 verified by Perfil.
The impact of this measure is substantial. Beyond the national-level cuts, the government has also decreed the cessation of intermediation for local programs within the City of Buenos Aires verified by Perfil. This move effectively removes the role of social organizations in managing the distribution of aid, a point of significant contention for the protesters.
The corte total en la autopista Rosario-Buenos Aires por una protesta de organizaciones sociales is part of a broader strategy to disrupt economic activity and draw international attention to the perceived social cost of Javier Milei’s economic adjustments. By blocking the primary highway connecting Rosario—a major industrial and agricultural hub—to the capital, protesters are attempting to exert maximum pressure on the administration.
Key Impact Summary
| Affected Group | Impact Detail | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|
| Program Beneficiaries | Approximately 900,000 people lose benefits | April 9, 2026 |
| Social Organizations | Cessation of intermediation in CABA | April 7, 2026 (Decreed) |
| National Infrastructure | Blockades in 70+ localities, including major highways | April 7, 2026 |
National Scope of the Protests
While the clashes in Buenos Aires have dominated the headlines, the unrest is not limited to the capital. The corte total en la autopista Rosario-Buenos Aires por una protesta de organizaciones sociales highlights the geographic reach of the movement. The autopista Buenos Aires-La Plata has also experienced significant disruptions verified by Página|12.
The strategy of “cortes de ruta” (roadblocks) is a traditional tool of social protest in Argentina, used here to signal a “plan de lucha” (struggle plan) against the “ajuste” (adjustment) of the Milei government. The coordinated nature of these blockages across 70 different locations suggests a high level of organization among the various social movements and labor unions involved verified by Perfil.
The government’s response remains firm, relying on the “anti-picket” protocol to clear roads and maintain the flow of traffic, even as the social cost of the program’s end looms. The tension is expected to remain high as the April 9 deadline for the official termination of benefits approaches.
The next critical checkpoint will be April 9, 2026, when the elimination of the “Volver al Trabajo” benefits officially takes effect. It remains to be seen if the social organizations will escalate their protests further upon that date.
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