Thousands protest outside Casa Rosada over Argentina debt crisis

AI digestMimile.ai EditorialAugust 21, 2026 at 11:36 AM

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Thousands protest outside Casa Rosada over Argentina debt crisis

Thousands of shopkeepers and business owners protested outside the Casa Rosada government palace in Buenos Aires over heavy debt burdens on middle- and lower-middle-income households. Fundar reported 30,633 company closures since Javier Milei took office, and central bank data showed household loan defaults rose to 12.8% in June 2026.

Key Facts

Fundar's May 2026 report counted 30,633 company closures since Javier Milei took office, equal to 6% of all companies in Argentina.
Argentina's central bank data showed the household loan default rate rose from 2.5% in October 2024 to 12.8% in June 2026.
CEPA recorded 8,408 business closures in trade, followed by 6,733 in transport and storage, 4,098 in real estate services, and 4,020 in manufacturing.
2,371 businesses closed in May 2026, an average of 76 per day.
Milei blamed feminism for the decline in birth rates at the Americas Council Conference closing in Buenos Aires.

The Protest

Thousands of shopkeepers and business owners gathered in Buenos Aires' Plaza de Mayo in front of Casa Rosada to protest heavy debt burdens on middle- and lower-middle-income households. Unions and civil society organizations supported the demonstration, which focused on rising credit use for food, medicine, and basic services. A joint statement from participants said the debt crisis in poor neighborhoods can no longer be postponed.

Economic Strain and Milei Remarks

Fundar's May 2026 report counted 30,633 company closures since Javier Milei took office, equal to 6% of all companies in Argentina, and described the closures as the heaviest drop for any government's first 30 months. CEPA confirmed the 30,633 figure and recorded 8,408 closures in trade, followed by 6,733 in transport and storage, 4,098 in real estate services, and 4,020 in manufacturing. 2,371 businesses closed in May 2026, an average of 76 per day. Argentina's central bank data showed the household loan default rate rose from 2.5% in October 2024 to 12.8% in June 2026. At the closing of the Americas Council Conference in Buenos Aires, Milei blamed feminism for the decline in birth rates and announced a music event to celebrate falling inflation.

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Thousands protest outside Casa Rosada over Argentina debt crisis

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Thousands protest outside Casa Rosada over Argentina debt crisis

Key Facts

The Protest

Economic Strain and Milei Remarks

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