17A

On March 12, 2020, a strict lockdown was established across Argentina. This, at first, caused a spike in the positive image of President Alberto Fernández during March. Several causes made it went down over the following months of "preventive and mandatory isolation", reaching in August a record-low positive image since the start of the lockdown measures.{{cite news|date=19 August 2020|title=La imagen de Alberto Fernández es negativa por primera vez desde el inicio de la pandemia|work=Perfil|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/politica/imagen-alberto-fernandez-es-negativa-por-primera-vez-desde-inicio-pandemia.phtml|language=es-AR}}{{cite web|title=CRISIS SANITARIA COVID-19 - Índices de optimismo & Encuestas Temáticas|url=http://myfconsultora.com.ar/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IO-Resumen-Cien-d%C3%ADas-COVID-19.pdf|publisher=Management & Fit|language=es-AR|access-date=2020-08-30|archive-date=2021-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419185706/http://myfconsultora.com.ar/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/IO-Resumen-Cien-d%C3%ADas-COVID-19.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|date=29 July 2020|title=Crece el pesimismo sobre el futuro económico y la capacidad del Gobierno de controlar la pandemia|work=El Cronista|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.cronista.com/economiapolitica/Crece-el-pesimismo-sobre-el-futuro-economico-y-la-capacidad-del-Gobierno-de-controlar-la-pandemia-20200729-0030.html|language=es-AR}}{{cite web|date=18 August 2020|title=INFORME X - ESPECIAL COVID-19|url=https://giacobbeconsultores.com/descargas/informeX_agosto_2020_covid19.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0RuDpviJemR0LR1e20K-eGoAdaT2bZhvHGTdBT4lzFp7iT9kWC5TThme0|publisher=Giacobbe Opinión Pública|language=es-AR|format=PDF}}{{cite news|date=15 July 2020|title=Encuesta: cae la imagen del Gobierno por la cuarentena y el 60% afirma que su situación económica empeoró|work=El Cronista|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.cronista.com/economiapolitica/Encuesta-cae-la-imagen-del-Gobierno-por-la-cuarentena-y-el60-afirma-que-su-situacion-economica-empeoro-20200715-0024.html|language=es-AR}} Opinion Polls showed a sharp decline in economic expectations of the population, primarily in the future employment and prices expectations.{{cite news|date=4 August 2020|title=Más de la mitad de los argentinos cree que la situación económica está peor que el año pasado y que se agravará aún más|work=Infobae|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/08/04/mas-de-la-mitad-de-los-argentinos-cree-que-la-situacion-economica-esta-peor-que-el-ano-pasado-y-que-se-agravara-aun-mas/|language=es-AR}}

People who approved the handle of the pandemic went from a 91.7% in March to a 62.4% in June, while disapproval went from a 5.5% in March to a 35.8% in June.

On the 9th of July, protesters rallied against the government on the Buenos Aires Obelisk and in several other points of the country.{{cite news |last=Beato Vassolo |first=Inés |date=10 July 2020 |title=Multitudinario banderazo contra el Gobierno en diferentes puntos del país |language=es-AR |work=La Nación |location=Buenos Aires |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/comenzo-banderazo-federal-del-9-julio-nid2394297/}}{{cite news|date=10 July 2020|title=El nuevo "banderazo" anticuarentena del 9 de July, con los discursos de siempre|work=Página 12|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/277540-el-nuevo-banderazo-anticuarentena-del-9-de-July-con-los-dis|language=es-AR}} File:Congregación en el Obelisco.jpg]]

On the 30th of July, the President sent the Congress a Bill for Justice Reform with the objective, according to Fernández, of being able to "better organize the Federal Justice and overcoming the crisis affecting the credibility and well-function of the Federal Criminal Justice.{{cite news|last=Cibeira|first=Fernando|date=30 July 2020|title=Alberto Fernández presentó la reforma judicial: "Una Justicia sobre la que no influyan los poderes"|work=Página 12|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/281743-alberto-fernandez-presento-la-reforma-judicial-una-justicia-|language=es-AR}}{{cite web|date=2020-07-29|title=El Presidente presentó el proyecto de ley de reforma de la Justicia|url=https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/el-presidente-presento-el-proyecto-de-ley-de-reforma-de-la-justicia|website=Argentine Executive|language=es-AR}}{{cite news |date=29 July 2020 |title=Alberto Fernández: "Proponemos organizar mejor la justicia federal" |url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202007/495948-alberto-fernandez-proyecto-reforma-judicial.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727215315/https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202007/495948-alberto-fernandez-proyecto-reforma-judicial.html |archivedate=27 July 2021 |work=Télam |location=Buenos Aires |language=es-AR}} This project foresaw the unification of Criminal and Economic Justice and the creation of 23 new courts, what would dilute the influence of the country's 12 federal judges, as well as the merger of appeal courts and imposing several new procedure rules for Federal Judges.{{cite news |date=29 July 2020 |title=Punto por punto, los cambios que introduce la reforma judicial que presentó Alberto Fernández |url=https://www.cronista.com/economiapolitica/Punto-por-punto-los-cambios-que-introduce-la-reforma-judicial-que-presento-Alberto-Fernandez-20200729-0046.html |work=El Cronista |location=Buenos Aires |language=es-AR}} Also, an Advisory Board was created to propose reforms on the Supreme Court and the Council of Magistracy.{{cite news|last=Hauser|first=Irina|date=28 July 2020|title=Reforma judicial: el Presidente definió los 11 firsts que integrarán el consejo asesor|work=Página 12|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/281212-reforma-judicial-el-presidente-definio-los-11-firsts-que-in|language=es-AR}}{{cite news|date=28 July 2020|title=Reforma judicial: "La Corte Suprema debería tener 9 miembros", consideró un integrante del nuevo consejo de asesores del Presidente|work=Infobae|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/07/28/reforma-judicial-la-corte-suprema-deberia-tener-9-miembros-considero-un-integrante-del-consejo-de-asesores/|language=es-AR}}

In August, negative image of Alberto Fernandez surpassed, for the first time, the positive one. Only one poll, conducted by the state-owned UBA School of Social Sciences, showed a larger positive than negative image on the President.{{cite news|date=15 August 2020|title=A un año de las PASO, Alberto Fernández mantiene una alta imagen positiva|work=Página 12|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/285338-a-un-ano-de-las-paso-alberto-fernandez-mantiene-una-alta-ima|language=es-AR}}

In the Buenos Aires Province, primarily the Greater Buenos Aires, an increase in crimes committed by people with no previous record was seen, qualified as "survival crime" by the Minister of Security of the province, Sergio Berni.{{Cite news|date=15 August 2020|title=Por la cuarentena, bajó el delito en la Ciudad|language=es-AR|trans-title=Because of the quarantine, crime went down on the city|work=Página 12|url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/285171-por-la-cuarentena-bajo-el-delito-en-la-ciudad}}{{cite news|date=30 June 2020|title=Sergio Berni: "Ahora tenemos una presencia muy fuerte del delito de supervivencia"|language=es-AR|trans-title=Sergio Berni: "We are now seeing a strong presence of the survival crime"|work=Perfil|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/actualidad/sergio-berni-el-esfuerzo-recien-empieza.phtml}}{{cite news|date=2 July 2020|title=Berni: "Estamos deteniendo gente sin historial que comete delitos de supervivencia"|language=es-AR|trans-title=Berni: "We are arresting people with no criminal record who does survival crimes"|work=Telefé Noticias|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://telefenoticias.com.ar/politica/berni-por-primera-vez-estamos-deteniendo-gente-sin-historial-que-comete-delitos-de-supervivencia/|access-date=30 August 2020|archive-date=2 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902064956/https://telefenoticias.com.ar/politica/berni-por-primera-vez-estamos-deteniendo-gente-sin-historial-que-comete-delitos-de-supervivencia/|url-status=dead}} This increase on crime was heavily covered by mass media and was one of the protesters claims. The National Ministry of Security, Sabina Frederic, stated: "There are not so much robberies [...] we are seeing violence acts during crime happening, which are being alerted, mainly, by mass media, which make them visible and follow-up the cases".{{cite news|date=3 August 2020|title=Sabina Frederic: "No son muchos los robos, los medios de comunicación los hacen visibles"|work=Infobae|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.infobae.com/politica/2020/08/03/sabina-frederic-no-son-muchos-los-robos-los-medios-de-comunicacion-los-hacen-visibles/|language=es-AR}}{{cite news|date=3 August 2020|title="No hay muchos robos en la Argentina", aseguró la ministra de Seguridad de la Nación|work=La Capital|location=Rosario|url=https://www.lacapital.com.ar/no-hay-muchos-robos-la-argentina-aseguro-la-ministra-seguridad-la-nacion-n2600995.html|language=es-AR}} After this statements, the Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers (Santiago Cafiero) added: "What I know is what the Ministry of Security, Frederic, is proposing according to a statistics comparing with the last year. Now, comparing with March, there are obviously more cases".{{cite news|date=5 August 2020|title=Cafiero: "Claramente hay aumento de casos de inseguridad desde el inicio de la pandemia"|work=Télam|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/498690-cafiero-claramente-hay-aumento-de-casos-de-inseguridad-desde-el-inicio-de-la-pandemia.html|language=es-AR|access-date=30 August 2020|archive-date=11 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200911031551/https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202008/498690-cafiero-claramente-hay-aumento-de-casos-de-inseguridad-desde-el-inicio-de-la-pandemia.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|date=5 August 2020|title=Cafiero habló de inseguridad y reconoció que hubo un aumento: "El delincuente no es delincuente porque es pobre"|work=Los Andes|location=Mendoza|url=https://www.losandes.com.ar/politica/cafiero-hablo-de-inseguridad-y-reconocio-que-hubo-un-aumento-el-delincuente-no-es-delincuente-porque-es-pobre/|language=es-AR}}

By the 17th of August, the day protests took place, the lockdown measures (officially known as "preventive and mandatory social isolation") had been on for 151 days in both the City of Buenos Aires and its Greater Area, while most of the rest of the country had gone to a less-strict phase called Social Distancing.

• Alberto Fernández, president of Argentina: "The protests are an invitation to contagion",{{cite news|date=August 15, 2020|title="Ahí tienen a los anticuarentena que aparecen muertos" dijo Alberto Fernández del 17A|work=Perfil|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.perfil.com/noticias/actualidad/pandemia-alberto-fernandez-marcha-invitacion-al-contagio-criticas-a-oposicion-y-diarios.phtml|access-date=August 17, 2020|language=es-AR}} and "They will not bend us, those who scream are usually not right"{{cite news|date=19 August 2020|title=Alberto Fernández tras el banderazo del 17A: "No nos van a doblegar, los que gritan no suelen tener razón"|work=La Nación|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/banderazo-17a-alberto-fernandez-no-nos-van-nid2425529|language=es-AR}}
• Ginés González García, Ministry of Health: "Today I read that elder people is being invited... it is a joke. The protests are a joke on all the measures we are trying with a big effort of all the argentine people".
• Santiago Cafiero, chief of staff: "We apologize to healthcare workers for not being able to avoid the protests".{{cite news|date=August 17, 2020|title=Cafiero el 17A: "Le pedimos perdón a los trabajadores de la salud por no haber podido evitar la marcha"|language=es-AR|work=Ámbito Financiero|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.ambito.com/salud/cafiero-el-17a-le-pedimos-perdon-los-trabajadores-la-no-haber-podido-evitar-la-marcha-n5125607|access-date=August 17, 2020}}
• Roberto Salvarezza, Ministry of Science and Technology: "it will bring consequences in the number of infected people".
• Luana Volnovich, head of PAMI (a public health insurance for the elders): "If someone invited my mom to a protest, I'd kill him".{{cite news|date=August 16, 2020|title=Banderazo del 17 de agosto: "Si alguien convocara a mi mamá a una marcha, lo mato", afirmó Luana Volnovich, titular del PAMI|language=es-AR|work=La Nación|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/banderazo-del-17-agosto-si-alguien-convocara-nid2422957|access-date=August 17, 2020}}

Several public figures from Argentina participated in the protests:

• Luis Brandoni, actor{{Cite news|date=August 17, 2020|title=Marcha 17A: quiénes fueron los opositores que se sumaron a la protesta o la respaldaron|language=es-AR|work=La Nación|location=Buenos Aires|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/banderazo-17a-quienes-fueron-opositores-se-sumaron-nid2423780|access-date=August 17, 2020}}
• Patricia Bullrich, chairwoman of the PRO party{{Cite tweet|user=PatoBullrich|title="#17AJuntosContraLaImpunidad"|number=1295450623094206466|date=August 17, 2020|language=es-AR}}
• Waldo Wolff, deputy (Juntos Por el Cambio){{Cite tweet|user=WolffWaldo|title="#17AJuntosContraLaImpunidad #NosotrosEstamos"|number=1295440014688620545|date=August 17, 2020|language=es-AR}}
• Héctor "Toty" Flores, deputy (Juntos Por el Cambio){{Cite tweet|user=TotyFlores|title="#17AJuntosContraLaImpunidad #17APorLaRepublica #17ASalimosTodos #17A"|number=1295434501947105282|date=August 17, 2020|language=es-AR}}
• Carolina Píparo, Buenos Aires province deputy (Juntos Por el Cambio){{Cite tweet|user=CarolinaPiparo|title="Acompaño con responsabilidad y con las convicciones de siempre. Todo mi apoyo y cariño a los miles de argentinos que reclaman una salida planificada a la cuarentena, firmeza ante la inseguridad y gritan un no rotundo a la reforma judicial #17AJuntosContraLaImpunidad #LaPlata ♥️🇦🇷"|number=1295451585309544448|date=August 17, 2020|language=es-AR}}
• Hernán Lombardi, politician{{Cite tweet|user=herlombardi|title="Acompañamos a la gente, manteniendo la distancia social, junto a Beto Brandoni. 1 argentino cada 2 metro diciendo no a la reforma judicial que persigue la impunidad. Sepa el gobierno escuchar. #17AJuntosContraLaImpunidad"|number=1295447868627660801|date=August 17, 2020|language=es-AR}}
• Andrés Horacio Ibarra, former Minister{{Cite tweet|user=andreshibarra|title="Más juntos que nunca defendiendo los valores de la República 🇦🇷💪🏻 #17AJuntosContraLaImpunidad"|number=1295456099454406661|date=August 17, 2020|language=es-AR}}

• 8N
• 18A
• 13N
• 18F

{{reflist|2}}

{{Alberto Fernández}}

{{COVID-19 pandemic}}

Category:2020 protests

Category:2020 in Argentina

Category:Protests in Argentina

Category:Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic