Argentina economy: Trade unions announce general strike

Eduardo Aragona is still trying to understand how life in Argentina will dramatically change from a welfare state to a free market economy. As a shopkeeper, he was already having a hard time keeping up with rising costs in a country on the brink of hyperinflation. Now that Argentina's new president, Javier Millet, has lifted price controls, Aragona will have to pay 50 percent more for health care and private schooling. The president implemented a shock therapy to reduce public spending in Argentina. But you can't just apply basic mathematics and say that two plus two is four if you're dealing with people's lives, especially if half of the country's population is already living in poverty. Since he took office three weeks ago, Millet enacted a mega decree abolishing more than three hundred rules. He also sent a package of bills to Congress, changing over 600 laws. He expedited divorce procedures, paved the way to privatize state-owned companies and soccer teams, and eliminated price ceilings on rents and medicine. The price of this antibiotic, for example, has gone up 73 percent in just one week. And the pharmacist tells us that he does not know how much more it will increase in the next days. Many of his clients suffering from chronic diseases have already told him they can no longer buy their medicine. One woman had no money to buy her blood pressure pills. I felt sorry and had to give her a discount so she could not interrupt her treatment. Argentines have already held two street protests against Millet, and trade unions have announced a general strike for January 24. But some, like restaurant owner Jose Freira, say it's too soon to criticize the president. I have faith in this country. It has given me all I have. I hope this government is successful because then we will all benefit. Eighty-year-old Freira has already been through several crises in Argentina. He says that the future is uncertain, but it cannot be worse than the present situation, and that the majority of Argentines, like himself, voted for a change. Monica Iannacchia of Al Jazeera, Buenos Aires. Make sure to subscribe to our channel to get the latest news from Al Jazeera.