Buenos Aires, Dec 20 (AP) Just days after taking office, Argentine President Javier Milei's government announced drastic economic measures that angered some social and labour groups, and warned it would crack down on any protests blocking streets.

The right-wing populist on Wednesday will face the first test of how his administration responds to demonstrations after those groups called on people to turn out to protest the economic shock measures, which Milei has said are needed to address Argentina's severe crisis.

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The shocks include a 50 per cent devaluation of Argentine peso, cuts to energy and transportation subsidies and the closure of some government ministries. They come amid soaring inflation and rising poverty.

Milei's security minister, Patricia Bullrich, presented a new “protocol” to maintain public order that allows federal forces to clear people blocking streets without a judicial order and authorises the police to identify — through video or digital means — people protesting and obstructing public thoroughfares. It can bill them for the cost of mobilizing security forces.

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The new protocol is aimed at preventing blockades, especially in Buenos Aires, where regular protests often block street for hours in what are commonly known as “piquetes.”

Some groups are saying the protocol goes too far and criminalises the right to protest.

On Tuesday, Argentine labour, social and human rights groups signed a petition asking the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to intercede against the new security protocol. In the petition, they say it is “incompatible with the rights to free assembly and association, freedom of expression and social protest” recognised in the country's constitution.

Argentina's government went farther this week, and on Monday announced that people who block streets could be removed from the public assistance benefit lists if they are on one.

“To the beneficiaries of social plans: know that no one can force you to go to a march under threat of taking away your plan,” said Sandra Pettovello, head of the newly created Human Capital Ministry, which combines what were the ministries of Labor, Education and Social Development.

“Protesting is a right, but so is the right of people to move freely through Argentine territory to go to their workplace," she said.

In Argentina, some people receive social support directly from the government, but others get support through social organisations with direct links to federal offices. Milei's administration says that many of these groups use this as way to force people to go out to protests in exchange for support.

Polo Obrero, which represents the unemployed, is one of the social groups calling for the protests on Wednesday. Its leader, Eduardo Belliboni, said Milei's government is planning to go “against the right to protest.”

People were called to protest in Buenos Aires, marching from Congress to the historic Plaza de Mayo. The march will coincide with the 22nd anniversary of a protest against the government's handling of an economic crisis that left dozens dead and led to the resignation of then-President Fernando de la Rúa

A recent poll by the University of Buenos Aires' Observatory of Applied Social Psychology indicated that 65 per cent of those surveyed agree with banning the blockades.

Milei, a 53-year-old economist who rose to fame on television with profanity-laden tirades against what he called the political caste, became president with the support of Argentines disillusioned with the economic crisis.

Argentina has an annual inflation rate of 161 per cent, and four out of every 10 people are poor. The South American country also faces a USD 45 billion debt owed to the International Monetary Fund. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)