Axel Kicillof Fired and Accused Police Officers of Sedition for Requesting a Salary Increase

The ultra-Kirchnerist government of Axel Kicillof made the decision to dismiss and file criminal charges against 18 members of the Bonaerense Police who in recent days carried out a protest related to salary and labor improvements. The officers, who served in the districts of Ituzaingó and Tres de Febrero, were also judicially accused of the crime of sedition.

The Kirchnerist government excused itself by stating that security forces are not allowed to make salary demands. In the specific case of the Bonaerense Police, any increase in their salaries is linked to the general collective bargaining that regulates the income of state employees.

In this regard, last week, Axel Kicillof's administration confirmed an agreement with state and teachers' unions for the months of February and March, which includes a 9% increase (7% corresponding to February and 2% in March), something completely insufficient for the province's police officers, who can't even cover their cost of living.

"We dismissed them from the force and filed criminal charges for breach of their duties. They are in serious trouble and it will happen to anyone who incites or calls for an uprising. The police are police by choice and they know they can't act this way. Furthermore, they go against the Constitution," stated the Ministry of Security of Kicillof, which has a completely underfunded and destroyed security force.

The protests by some members of the force are not a new phenomenon and are often organized through social media. "The same Facebook profile had called for a mobilization on February 6 and nothing happened," downplayed the entourage of Kirchnerist minister Javier Alonso.

From those same profiles circulates a document with 13 points that requests, among other things, that no sanctions be applied to those participating in the demonstrations, a 100% increase in the basic salary, improvements in IOMA coverage and agreements with private clinics, as well as the possibility for personnel to perform duties within a 50 km radius of their residence.

Background

The moment of greatest tension in this type of protest occurred during the pandemic, in September 2020, when around 1,200 officers joined the protest and even demonstrated in front of Axel Kicillof's residence in La Plata and the Quinta de Olivos. At that time, the Ministry of Security was under the management of Sergio Berni.

To defuse the crisis, the government of the abuser Alberto Fernández decided to take money from the City of Buenos Aires and create the Fiscal Strengthening Fund for the Province of Buenos Aires, which subsequently led to a salary increase announced by Kicillof in a press conference.

"When we detect a police officer who is outside the law, we dismiss them. From that protest in 2020, the 1,200 police officers were dismissed," threatened the Bonaerense Ministry of Security.