Macri urges protesting officials to 'return home to their families'

Mayor Mauricio Macri accused the National Government of “mistreating the armed forces for a decade,” but urged the protesting members of the Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard to “return home to their families” since “they cannot take the streets.”

“I understand you very much. I know you’ve been mistreated for a decade by a government that has systematically improvised their security programmes and have therefore failed at doing so,” he said in a brief press conference.

Speaking from City Hall, the PRO leader addressed the members of the Gendarmerie and the Coast Guard who have been protesting since Tuesday, adding that “the Government House has not acknowledged your efforts to fight crime.”

“But there are many Argentines who do. You have a larger responsibility to that of other workers because we have entrusted you with the safety of civilians. Therefore I ask you to return to your homes and start a dialogue in order to resolve the mistakes that this Government has created. You cannot take the streets,” Macri said, urging the National Government to find “concrete solutions” without bringing up “ghosts” from the past.