New retirees' march: another display of activism disguised as a social demand

This Wednesday, April 16, once again, a march was held under the banner of "retirees' mobilization" in the City of Buenos Aires. But, as is now common, what appears to be a genuine claim by senior citizens for their pension rights ends up being an act loaded with political intent.

Far from being a spontaneous mobilization, the scene was dominated by flags of Kirchnerist groups, leftist organizations, and even insignias of international causes like Palestine. The image was clear: more activism than actual retirees. These spaces use the figure of the retiree as a shield to disguise acts of political agitation that have little to do with the true interests of our senior citizens.

Deputy Vilca and a speech far from reality

One of the most striking moments was the appearance of the Left Front deputy, Alejandro Vilca, who took advantage of the mobilization to meet with representatives of militant groups and a few retirees present. Instead of providing a responsible perspective, the deputy once again resorted to misinformation: he claimed that the government was "cutting pensions," "removing medications," or that "the system is not bankrupt."

Nothing could be further from the truth. While Vilca was speaking those words, Chief of Staff Guillermo Francos was presenting his management report in Congress, explaining with concrete data the inherited situation and the measures being taken to reverse it. The pension system was indeed handed over in bankruptcy by Kirchnerism: structural deficit, underfunding of ANSES, and a model based on the massive incorporation of retirees through moratorium without the necessary contributions.

The numbers speak for themselves: of the 5,502,063 pension benefits in effect in June 2024, 3,703,707 correspond to moratorium pensions and only 1,798,356 to non-moratorium pensions. This reveals the impact of years of improvisation, pension populism, and lack of fiscal sustainability.

Pensions are indeed improving

Unlike the narrative of Vilca and his allies, current data shows a positive trend in the recovery of retirees' income. In April 2024, pensions, retirements, and allowances received a 2.40% increase. This is in addition to a $70,000 bonus for those receiving the minimum.

Thanks to this measure, the total minimum pension amounts to $355,820.63. Additionally, those earning less than that amount will receive a proportional bonus to reach that figure.

The main benefits are as follows:

Minimum pension + bonus: $355,820.63

Universal Pension for the Elderly (PUAM): $298,656.50

Non-Contributory Pension for Disability and Old Age: $270,074.44

Mother of 7 Children Pension: $355,820.63

These figures reflect the current government's commitment to the most vulnerable sectors, despite the difficult economic context inherited. Unlike previous years, where pensions lost purchasing power month by month and were used as a covert adjustment variable, today there is a policy of gradual and sustained recovery.