Buenos Aires governor Axel Kicillof starred in an uncomfortable episode this Tuesday during the release of new officers from the Police of the Province of Buenos Aires, held at the Juan Vucetich School, in Berazategui.
In the middle of the ceremony, he was booed by those present while trying to give his speech.
The event occurred when Kicillof sought to highlight his management policies regarding security and police equipment. However, the public's reaction soon appeared: whistles and screams began, among which a loud and direct demand stood out: “Pay for the increase!”
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Tension increased as the governor tried to continue his presentation. At various times he had to pause because of the volume of the boos, which completely obscured the official message. Despite trying to raise the tone of voice and regain control of the situation, the adverse climate continued until the end
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The episode highlighted the existing malaise within the Buenos Aires police force, particularly with regard to the wage issue. The complaint comes in a context where the provincial government had recently agreed to an increase of 11%, to be implemented in a phased manner during the first months of the year. However, for many troops, this increase is insufficient in the face of historic neglect of police purchasing power
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During his speech, Kicillof had stated that when he took office he found himself with an “ill-equipped, ill-trained and very discredited police”, a phrase that ended up acting as a trigger for public reaction. The immediate response showed dissatisfaction with the official diagnosis and, above all, with the current situation of the agents
. The governor feigned insanity in his networks.
After the act, the governor chose to omit what happened on his social networks. In a subsequent publication, he highlighted the addition of more than 1,500 new officers and assured that his management continues to invest in equipment, infrastructure and training to strengthen security in the province. There was no reference to boos or wage claims
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What was supposed to be an institutional celebration ended up becoming an uncomfortable scene for the Buenos Aires Government. While Kicillof tried to install a message of management and improvements to the force, the troops themselves responded with a direct demand for their salaries
