Buenos Aires police fire tear gas at anti-Milei protesters

Violent clashes have erupted outside the Argentina Congress on Wednesday after right-wing President Javier Milei’s controversial economic reform package was approved by the Senate.

Demonstrators said that the measures will hurt millions of Argentines.  The measures are opposed by leftist political parties, labour unions and social organisations.

The reforms, proposed by Milei, aim at reviving the country's flagging economy, including declaring a state of economic emergency, cutting pensions, and watering down labour rights. Annual inflation is currently close to 300%, while more than half of Argentines are now living in poverty.

Several people were reported injured, with local media in Argentina describing the scene on Wednesday as a ‘‘battlefield’’ as protestors threw petrol bombs and stones, setting cars on fire. Dozens of demonstrators received medical attention and at least five opposition MPs in the crowd were hospitalised, legislator Cecilia Moreau told the media.

"We cannot believe that in Argentina we are discussing a law that will put us back 100 years," Fabio Nunez, a 55-year-old protesting lawyer, was quoted by the media.

Later, President Milei's office issued a statement thanking the security forces for suppressing what it called "terrorists" attempting to stage an attack. Senators voted 37 to 36 late on Wednesday to give their overall approval to the bill after 11 hours of heated debate while protesters clashed outside.

The bill will now be looked at point by point before its expected full approval on Thursday where It will then return to the lower house of the Senate to be given a final green light.