Argentina lawmakers take up contentious IMF refinancing deal

Argentina lawmakers have begun debating a bill needed to approve Argentina’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund on refinancing a $45 billion debt, while protesters opposed to the deal clashed with police outside the Congress building

BUENOS AIRES -- Lawmakers on Thursday began debating legislation needed to approve Argentina's agreement with the International Monetary Fund on refinancing a $45 billion debt, while protesters opposed to the deal clashed with police outside the Congress building.

Several dozen militants from leftist groups and social organizations initially threw stones at the building and set fire to tires and garbage containers. When police arrived trying to disperse the crowd, protesters threw rocks and bottles at the officers.

There has been widespread criticism of the agreement on refinancing debt taken on by Argentina in 2018 during the government of conservative President Mauricio Macri. But the current left-of-center government says the agreement reached last week needs to be approved to avoid a default on the loans and major problems for the economy.

“It is the best agreement that could be achieved," Carlos Heller, head of the Chamber of Deputies' Budget and Finance Committee, said a few minutes after the opening of what was expected to be a long debate.