In Argentina, a massive protest seeks to reverse the sale of unlimited lands

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, thousands of people protested on October 6, gathering outside the Argentine Palace of Justice to condemn a Supreme Court ruling that allowed foreign capital to buy unlimited land. The protest united various organizations, including the Argentine Workers’ Central (CTA), former Falklands/Malvinas War veterans, political parties opposing the government of Javier Milei, human rights groups, and ordinary citizens.

Protester Mara, a 30-year-old social worker, expressed her concern over the impact on local communities, saying, "The indiscriminate sale of parcels directly affects us because we are going to become tenants of our own land." Another protester, Jorge, who carried a Falklands/Malvinas flag, emphasized the importance of reversing the decision, stating, "I hope they reverse it."

Hugo "Cachorro" Godoy, the head of the Confederation of Workers of Argentina (CTA), announced that a month of nationwide mobilizations would follow, demanding national sovereignty and rejecting the government's actions. Despite government spokesman Adrian Ravier's rejection of the protesters' claims, they stand firm that the measure does not intend to eliminate or alter Argentina's land ownership and borders.

The conflict originated from Article 154 of Decree 70/2023, issued in December 2023, which repealed Law 26.737, establishing a 15% limit on foreign land purchases. The decree was initially suspended in March, but the government appealed and attempted to relax land sales through other means in August. However, the Supreme Court annulled the Land Law in September, allowing unrestricted land transactions.

Now, Congress plans to hold a special session on October 15 to overturn the decree and re-establish the Land Law, with massive protests expected to pressure lawmakers on the voting day.