Thousands of people took to the streets of Buenos Aires on Wednesday to protest the government’s measures to deal with the economic shock, the first real test for Argentina’s new libertarian president, Javier Millay, writes Reuters.

Millais, who took office earlier this month promising to cut public spending, has in recent days announced sweeping plans to reform the economy and crack down on protests, setting up a potential fight with social groups that have vowed to oppose “shock therapy.” ” of this

Last week, Millay announced a 54 percent devaluation of the peso, cuts in subsidies and the closure of government ministries, measures he said were necessary to address Argentina’s acute economic crisis.

Amid a heavy police presence, protesters led by groups of the unemployed took to the main square of Plaza de Mayo, a historic meeting place in front of the presidential palace, to demand more financial support for the poor.

Authorities moved protesters away from roads and onto sidewalks to allow traffic to flow smoothly.

“This is a peaceful mobilization. We don’t want any confrontation. We don’t want any clashes,” Eduardo Belliboni, who heads the left-wing protest group Polo Obrero, which first called the demonstration, told local radio.

The march planned for Wednesday comes after the new security minister unveiled a law enforcement “protocol” last week that allows federal forces to stop demonstrators from setting up destructive roadblocks.

Some civil society organizations said that the protocol goes too far and compromises the right to protest.

The government also said on Monday that people who block streets could lose their right to public benefits.

• On the same topic: “Prison or bullet”: Argentina’s new government promises a tough response to possible protests caused by the devaluation of the national currency