More than one in two Argentinians lives below the poverty line. Official figures published Thursday September 26, 2024 reveal a drastic increase in poverty, +11% in just six months. An increase which can be explained by the deterioration of the economic situation in the country, marked by galloping inflation and recession.
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With our correspondent in Buenos Aires, Théo Conscience
52.6%, to find such a level of poverty in Argentinawe have to go back more than 20 years, to the end of the great crisis of 2001. Even more worrying, among those under 15, the proportion of children living below the poverty line rises to 66%.
Since the coming to power of Javier Mileisix months ago, more than five million Argentines fell into poverty. A sudden increase which can be explained by the crisis, the Argentine economy contracted by 3.2% in the first half, by the surge in prices which have almost doubled since the start of the year, but also by the austerity shock decided by the ultraliberal president.
In order to bring public accounts back into balance, the government has made drastic cuts in social spending and allowed inflation to eat away at pensions and the salaries of civil servants, many of which are below the income necessary to live with dignity.
Even before the publication of the official figures yesterday, the government spokesperson defended this austerity policy, which according to him made it possible to avoid hyperinflation and an even more drastic increase in poverty.
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