STORY: Retirees rallied on Wednesday (August 6), in Buenos Aires to protest against the Argentine government over inadequate pensions. Security forces responded by deploying water cannons and pepper spray to disperse the demonstrators near the National Congress.

Protesters expressed their struggles with rising living costs and insufficient pension payments. "You can't live on what they pay us. You can't even buy food anymore. We eat once a day, have breakfast and eat once a day, nothing more. It's not enough," said Silvia Saires, a 70-year-old retiree. "We have a president who doesn't care about anything or anyone. I think he doesn't even love his mother," added Ana Saavedra, another protester.

On Monday (August 4), Libertarian President Javier Milei vetoed a pension boost and a bill strengthening protections for people with disabilities, arguing that the legislation would undermine his pledge to eliminate the country's chronic fiscal deficit. Milei's administration stated that Congress passed the spending bills "without determining the source of the funds."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: POLICE BLOCKING PROTESTERS, USING WATER CANNONS AND PEPPER SPRAY / RETIREES MARCHING / SOUNDBITES FROM RETIREES

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (AUGUST 6, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF RIOT POLICE BLOCKING THE PATH OF PROTESTERS

2. JOURNALIST BEING LIFTED UP, AFFECTED BY PEPPER SPRAY

3. PEOPLE PROTESTING, CLAPPING HANDS

4. RIOT POLICE BLOCKING PROTESTERS AT A STREET CORNER

5. RIOT POLICE THROWING TEAR GAS AT PROTESTERS

6. WATER CANNON SPRAYING WATER AT PROTESTERS AND JOURNALISTS

7. RIOT POLICE FORMING A LINE IN THE STREET

8. VARIOUS OF PROTESTER AFFECTED BY TEAR GAS DURING PROTEST

9. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING TOWARDS THE CONGRESS

10. RETIRED PROTESTER, ANA SAAVEDRA, WITH OTHER PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF THE CONGRESS

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RETIRED PROTESTER, ANA SAAVEDRA, 78 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"We earn a pittance, I stopped buying all medications except my blood pressure pills. I honestly can't make it to the end of the month. My son helps me, and it embarrasses me... (cries) to ask him for help... but I can't make it. I have to pay for electricity, gas, phone, water, that's how it is. Unfortunately, we have a president who doesn't care about anything or anyone. I think he doesn't even love his mother."

12. VARIOUS OF RETIREES PROTESTING IN FRONT OF CONGRESS

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RETIRED PROTESTER, SILVIA SAIRES, 70 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"You can't live on what they pay us. You can't even buy food anymore. We eat once a day, have breakfast and eat once a day, nothing more. It's not enough."

14. VARIOUS OF RETIREES PROTESTING IN FRONT OF CONGRESS

15. RETIRED PROTESTER, ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ, IN FRONT OF THE NATIONAL CONGRESS

16. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) RETIRED PROTESTER, ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ, 72 YEARS OLD, SAYING:

"We're talking about a loss of 7% in a pension of 300,000 pesos (USD 225), it's terrible. There are things I really can't believe and they outrage me. That's why I'm here, I'm 72 years old, I lost my wife a few months ago and I live here (on the public square). I live here because what's happening to us can't be. I don't know how much longer I have to live, but whatever time I have left will be spent fighting."

17. PROTESTER HOLDING A SIGN READING (Spanish): “We are all retirees, it’s a matter of time. We will keep fighting.”

18. PROTESTER HOLDING A SIGN READING (Spanish): “Enough cruelty.”