2008 Argentine agrarian strike

gov es Paro agropecuario patronal en Argentina de 2008 August 2017 The 2008 Argentine agrarian strike refers to the conflict between the Argentine national government and the 4 entities that represented the agriculture sector. The crisis began in March 2008 with four agricultural sector employers organizations (Federación Agraria Argentina, Sociedad Rural Argentina, Confederaciones Rurales Argentinas es and CONINAGRO es) taking direct action such as road blocks to protest against the decision of the government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to raise export taxes on soybeans and sunflower. The subsequent political upheaval has seen elements of the ruling Front for Victory speak out against the government and the resignation of Economy Minister Martín Lousteau. History In March 2008, Fernández de Kirchner's government introduced a new sliding-scale taxation system for agricultural exports, effectively raising levies on soybean exports to 44% from 35% at the time of the announcement. Argentine Soybean Output May Slip; Protests May Pause Bloomberg 9 March 2008 https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aXApGun1Lmpw 29 April 2008 The aim was to raise government funds for social investment by increasing the government's share of returns from rising world grain prices, and also to reduce domestic food prices by encouraging farmers to switch to growing staple foods like wheat and corn, rather than export crops such as soybeans. Farmers, on the other hand, felt that the export duties were already too high.Argentina ends grain tax hike Los Angeles Times 19 July 2008 https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-farmers19-2008jul19,0,2489386.story Patrick J. McDonnell 19 July 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080803120812/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-farmers19-2008jul19%2C0%2C2489386.story 3 August 2008 live The move led to a nationwide lockout by farming associations, starting on March 11, with the aim of forcing the government to back down on the new taxation scheme. As a result, on March 25 thousands of demonstrators banging pots massed around the obelisk in the capital and in front of the presidential palace. Protests extended across the country. In Buenos Aires, hours after Fernández attacked farmers for their two-week strike and "abundant" profits, there were violent incidents between government supporters and protesters, and the police was accused of wilfully turning a blind eye.La policía observó, pero no intervino La Nación 27 March 2008 http://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/nota.asp?nota_id=999067&origen=relacionadas 29 April 2008 4 April 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080404005752/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/nota.asp?nota_id=999067 dead The media was harshly critical of Luis D'Elía, a former government official who took part in the incidents, with some media sources and members of the opposition (notably Elisa Carrió), claiming that he and his followers had violently suppressed the protest pursuant to the government's orders.Cacería para ganar la Plaza. Fueron golpeados manifestantes que apoyaban el reclamo del campo La Nación 26 March 2008 http://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/nota.asp?nota_id=998778&origen=relacionadas 29 April 2008 30 April 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080430111200/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/nota.asp?nota_id=998778 deadEl verdadero mensaje de las cacerolas La Nación 27 March 2008 https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/el-verdadero-mensaje-de-las-cacerolas-nid999018/ Argentina's Fernández Plays With Fire The Guardian 1 April 2008 https://www.theguardian.com/feedarticle?id=7425706 London dead 29 April 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080407011046/http://www.guardian.co.uk/feedarticle?id=7425706 7 April 2008 On April 1, the government organised a rally during which thousands of pro-government protesters marched through downtown Buenos Aires in support of the Argentine leadership. Fernández de Kirchner called on farmers to act "as part of a country, not as owners of a country".In Argentina, thousands rally in support of president Los Angeles Times 2 April 2008 https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-farmers2apr02,1,5792792.story Patrick J. McDonnell 29 April 2008 A poll-result published in the Spanish newspaper El País (Spain's most widely circulated daily newspaper) revealed that, following the protests, Fernández's approval rating had "plummeted" from 57.8% at the start of her administration Angus Reid 31 December 2007 http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/positive_rating_for_argentinas_cristina_kirchner/ Positive Rating for Argentina's Cristina Kirchner 30 April 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081208160500/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/positive_rating_for_argentinas_cristina_kirchner/ 2008-12-08 usurped to an unprecedented 23%.La popularidad de la presidenta argentina se hunde en tres meses EL PAIS 9 April 2008 https://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/popularidad/presidenta/argentina/hunde/meses/elpepiint/20080409elpepiint_7/Tes 30 April 2008 Marirrodriga Jorge Because of the farmers' strikes, mass protests and road blocks in various parts of the country, President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner was forced to send the government's farm exports tax proposal to the Argentine Congress. On July 5, the Argentine lower house narrowly approved the government's tax package on agricultural exports by a vote of 129-122.https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7491725.stm BBC News Argentine MPs approve farm taxes 2008-07-05 2010-04-22 However, in the early morning of July 17, after seventeen hours of tense debate, the Argentine Senate rejected the government's grain exports tax measure by a vote of 37-36, with Vice President Julio Cobos casting the decisive, tie-breaking vote against the measure.https://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/world/americas/18argentina.html Argentina Blocks Farm Export Tax The New York Times 18 July 2008 26 May 2013 Barrionuevo Alexei On July 18, the Argentine government officially revoked Resolution 125. Levies on agricultural exports returned to March 10 levels (i.e. before the controversial Resolution 125 was imposed by a presidential decree).http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1031390 Derogaron la polémica resolución 125 2008-07-21 2010-08-11 https://web.archive.org/web/20100811220616/http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1031390 dead See also History of Argentina — The recovery Alfredo de Angeli References Category:Economic history of Argentina Category:Presidency of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner Argentine Government Conflict With The Agricultural Sector, 2008 Category:Political scandals in Argentina Category:History of agriculture in Argentina Category:Protests in Argentina Category:2008 protests