Police in Argentina use tear gas to stop protesters

Protests erupted in Buenos Aires Thursday against a new law proposed by President Javier Milei's government, sparking clashes with security forces. The "Inviolability of Private Property" bill, currently under debate in the Argentine Senate, aims to simplify eviction processes, alter rural land use regulations, and impose stricter limits on governments seizing private property.

The legislation also sought to increase the maximum percentage of land foreign buyers could own from 15% to 25%. However, the ruling party removed the provision allowing foreign land ownership after facing significant opposition.

Thousands of demonstrators, organized by left-wing groups and labor unions, took to the streets outside the Senate to express their disapproval. Initially peaceful, the protest turned confrontational when police intervened, using tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse the crowd. While EFE reported the initial protests as peaceful, AFP noted that some protesters threw stones and other objects at officers during the altercation.

The government's proposed reforms were intended to boost investment in the country, but critics warn against potential negative consequences such as "colonization, fragmentation, fracture, and balkanization" of Argentina. Marcela Arin, a protester who traveled from the southern province of Neuquen, emphasized the protesters' stance: "The homeland is not for sale. Defending our territory is crucial... We must take to the streets to protest. It is our Argentina that we must defend; it is not for sale."

The debate over land ownership in Argentina is not new. According to a 2025 study by researchers from the University of Buenos Aires and other institutions, nearly 5% of the country's territory — an area comparable to England — is already owned by foreign entities. Some districts have already surpassed the current 15% foreign ownership cap. The study highlighted concerns about the potential impact of the proposed legislation on the nation's land distribution and economic landscape.