The Government of Javier Milei proceeded on Wednesday to close the bar "Un café con Perón," located in the Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires, inside the Juan Perón National Institute, after the Ministry of Human Capital revoked the concession and ordered its eviction.
Last Saturday, that place was the scene of a violent occupation led by the left-wing extremist Juan Grabois, which ended with the building being cleared by the Federal Police and the socialist leader detained, although he was later released.
"The law is enforced," wrote the Minister of Human Capital, Sandra Pettovello, on her X profile, accompanying her post with a 28-second video showing the procedure: from the placement of the closure seal to the moment when a worker declares, "We don't have the papers."
El bar “Un café con Perón”.
Near midnight on Thursday, the social media accounts of the Peronist bar, currently under investigation for alleged irregularities, shared strong criticism against Minister Pettovello. "While Pettovello revels in posting images of the closure, 30 families have lost their source of income, losing their jobs," stated the bar, which was funded with the taxes of all Argentinians.
They also addressed their followers with a message of resistance: "We'll keep you informed about our situation; meanwhile, we ask you to keep supporting us. They haven't defeated us!"
The closure took place four days after Grabois's forced entry into the Juan Domingo Perón Institute, which led to his detention. In that context, the bar expressed its support for the violent UTEP leader: "From 'Un café con Perón' we want to express our absolute solidarity with our comrade Juan Grabois for his arbitrary detention, and we demand his immediate release."
El bar “Un café con Perón”.
The closure of the establishment
On May 7, presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni had already announced during his regular press conference that the closure of the space where the gastronomic establishment operated was imminent. "The Juan Domingo Perón National Institute for historical, social, and political studies and research will cease to exist, as well as the permanent national commission in tribute to Lieutenant General Juan Domingo Perón," he stated.
With this measure, Milei's Government transferred the building and its assets to the area headed by Minister Sandra Pettovello and decided to terminate 24 workers, whose maintenance, according to reports, represented an annual expense of approximately 400 million pesos (881,849 dollars). This is how the conflict began.
