Argentines battle police as Milei reforms clear Senate hurdle

Argentine President Javier Milei's controversial economic reform package narrowly won preliminary Senate approval late Wednesday, after police and protesters violently clashed outside Congress throughout the day.

Lawmakers for hours on Wednesday debated a swath of liberalizing reforms proposed by the budget-slashing president, while security forces fired tear gas and water cannon at rioting demonstrators outside.

Late in the evening, the package won approval "in general" in the Senate, an important step for Milei's effort to finally get his flagship reforms across the finish line.

"For those Argentines who suffer, who wait, who do not want to see their children leave the country... my vote is affirmative," Argentine vice president and Senate leader Victoria Villaruel said after breaking the 36-36 tie in the chamber.

The bill's separate articles were now being addressed point by point in a process expected to continue into the early hours of Thursday. If approved in a full vote, the measure returns to the lower house for a final green light.

  Rubber bullets, pepper spray 

Scuffles broke out earlier when protesters tried to bypass a system of fences set up between them and Congress. Officers used rubber bullets and pepper spray against the rioters, who responded by lobbing stones at the police.

Seven people, including five lawmakers among the protesters, were treated at hospital after being pepper sprayed, according to the health ministry.

Dozens of others received medical attention at the scene.

Later, as night fell, thick blocks of shield-bearing officers and others on motorbikes pushed back the protesters, who overturned two cars — one of which belonged to a local...