Protesters from the Piquetero Fighting Front demand food for soup kitchens amidst government scandal

Social organizations in Argentina took to the streets in Buenos Aires and other cities to demand the immediate delivery of food for soup kitchens that assist poor families. The protests come in the wake of a scandal that rocked the government of Javier Miley, involving the storage in state warehouses of products intended for social assistance that are close to expiring. Banners with messages such as “Enough hunger, deliver the food” and “Restitution of food now” were held by members of leftist groups during the protests.

The marches were organized by the Coordinator for Social Change, the Polo Obrero, and other leftist organizations that have been providing food assistance from the State to soup kitchens for decades. The recent revelation that tens of thousands of kilos of powdered milk stored in Ministry of Human Capital warehouses are set to expire in July led to the government ordering their distribution with the help of the Army and a foundation.

Protesters expressed their discontent, demanding higher quality food than just powdered milk. The current context of growing poverty in Argentina, with more than 55% of the population affected by poverty, highlights the urgency of the situation. Inflation, economic recession, and strong government austerity measures have contributed to the precarious living conditions of many in the country.

Sandra Pettovello, head of the Ministry of Human Capital, has been criticized for the mismanagement of food distribution and storage. The Executive had initially claimed that the stored food was for emergencies or catastrophes, but as the controversy grew, it was revealed that there was a lack of control over stock and expiration dates of the merchandise acquired by the government.

The intervention of the justice system in response to a complaint filed by a social leader has forced the government to come up with a plan for the quick distribution of the stored products. The tension between leftist organizations and the government over social policy management has been escalating, with accusations of irregularities on both sides leading to judicial investigations.