BUENOS AIRES, June 7 - Several thousand Argentines protested against the government of President Cristina Fernandez by banging pots and pans in front of the presidential palace in Buenos Aires late on Thursday.
Pot-banging protests are highly symbolic in Argentina, stirring memories of the street demonstrations staged by angry savers, housewives and students during a devastating economic and political crisis of 2001/02.
The protesters, who gathered in the downtown Plazo de Mayo square after receiving messages on social networks, complained about double-digit inflation, a virtual ban on purchases of foreign currency by savers and crime.
“We’re fed up of the corruption and crime,” said Joaquin Cuneo, 21. “Some of things they do are okay, but they’re getting a lot wrong.”
High inflation, capital flight and slowing economic growth are prompting Fernandez to pursue increasingly off-beat economic policies.
Less than a year since she won easy re-election, polls have shown a decline in her approval ratings in recent months despite broad support for the renationalization of the country’s biggest energy company, YPF.
