Piquetero

Among the decimated, but still numerous, Argentine middle class, the common criticism is that piqueteros, while morally and legally entitled to protest and demonstrate, should not do so by blocking important roads and streets, since this violates other people's [[civil rights|right]] to circulate freely and often results in delays (from the relatively trivial problem of arriving home later after work, to the very serious of ambulances with critical patients being stopped by a picket). The so-called "violent" attitude of some piqueteros, who cover their faces with [[scarf]]s or [[handkerchief]]s, as a claimed form of protection against police retaliation, and who wield sticks, can be interpreted as a visible threat towards passers-by and police; this is usually pointed out as proof. On occasion, critics can become violent as well, when faced with a picket. So, people who criticize the piqueteros may agree with the need to provide relief for the poor and unemployed, but disagree on the form of the demands.

Among the decimated, but still numerous, Argentine middle class, the common criticism is that piqueteros, while morally and legally entitled to protest and demonstrate, should not do so by blocking important roads and streets, since this violates other people's [[civil rights|right]] to circulate freely and often results in delays (from the relatively trivial problem of arriving home later after work, to the very serious of ambulances with critical patients being stopped by a picket). The so-called "violent" attitude of some piqueteros, who cover their faces with [[scarf]]s or [[handkerchief]]s, as a claimed form of protection against police retaliation, and who wield sticks, can be interpreted as a visible threat towards passers-by and police; this is usually pointed out as proof. On occasion, critics can become violent as well, when faced with a picket. So, people who criticize the piqueteros may agree with the need to provide relief for the poor and unemployed, but disagree on the form of the demands.

The political right, speaking mainly through politicians and journalists, but resonating with many other Argentinians, overtly or covertly equates piqueteros with criminals. Violent incidents with piqueteros have ended up with people wounded, cars and houses damaged, etc. Even non-violent blockades are formally illegal, if they cause serious disruption. Occupation of state and private buildings, including [[supermarket]]s and [[casino]]s, followed by demands of money and food supplies, has also occurred in the recent past. People advocating the application of the law against blockades request that the government outlaw the protests and suppress them, using violent means if necessary. However, most pickets end without violence. Former President Mauricio Macri has even disparagingly called piqueteros as "[[orc]]s".<ref>{{cite news |title=Mauricio Macri: "Los jóvenes no se van a quedar en casa y los orcos van a tener que medir muy bien cuando quieran hacer desmanes en la calle" |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2023/11/21/mauricio-macri-los-orcos-van-a-tener-que-medir-muy-bien-cuando-quieran-salir-a-la-calle-a-hacer-desmanes/ |agency=Infobae |date=21 November 2023 |language=spanish |quote=traslation: Mauricio Macri: “Young people are not going to stay at home and orcs are going to have to be very careful when they want to cause trouble in the street”}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Federico Angelini explicó quiénes son los orcos a los que se refirió Mauricio Macri |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/federico-angelini-explico-quienes-son-los-orcos-a-los-que-se-refirio-mauricio-macri-nid22112023/ |agency=La Nación |date=22 November 2023 |language=spanish}}</ref>

The political right, speaking mainly through politicians and journalists, but resonating with many other Argentinians, overtly or covertly equates piqueteros with criminals. Violent incidents with piqueteros have ended up with people wounded, cars and houses damaged, etc. Even non-violent blockades are formally illegal, if they cause serious disruption. Occupation of state and private buildings, including [[supermarket]]s and [[casino]]s, followed by demands of money and food supplies, has also occurred in the recent past. People advocating the application of the law against blockades request that the government outlaw the protests and suppress them, using violent means if necessary. However, most pickets end without violence. Former President Mauricio Macri has even disparagingly called piqueteros as "[[orc]]s".<ref>{{cite news |title=Mauricio Macri: "Los jóvenes no se van a quedar en casa y los orcos van a tener que medir muy bien cuando quieran hacer desmanes en la calle" |url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2023/11/21/mauricio-macri-los-orcos-van-a-tener-que-medir-muy-bien-cuando-quieran-salir-a-la-calle-a-hacer-desmanes/ |agency=Infobae |date=21 November 2023 |language=spanish |quote=translation: Mauricio Macri: “Young people are not going to stay at home and orcs are going to have to be very careful when they want to cause trouble in the street”}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Federico Angelini explicó quiénes son los orcos a los que se refirió Mauricio Macri |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/federico-angelini-explico-quienes-son-los-orcos-a-los-que-se-refirio-mauricio-macri-nid22112023/ |agency=La Nación |date=22 November 2023 |language=spanish}}</ref>

Piqueteros themselves have become fragmented, as explained above. The movements supported by [[left-wing politics|leftist]] parties, as well as the independent ones, criticize piquetero leaders, who have chosen to support the national Kirchner administration (which is viewed by them as a relatively progressive government). In turn, the left-wing piqueteros are portrayed by the others as representatives of an unproductive, non-constructive radical opposition, sometimes encouraging violent action.

Piqueteros themselves have become fragmented, as explained above. The movements supported by [[left-wing politics|leftist]] parties, as well as the independent ones, criticize piquetero leaders, who have chosen to support the national Kirchner administration (which is viewed by them as a relatively progressive government). In turn, the left-wing piqueteros are portrayed by the others as representatives of an unproductive, non-constructive radical opposition, sometimes encouraging violent action.