BUENOS AIRES – Thousands of supporters of Argentina‘s 1976-1983 military dictatorship gathered in Buenos Aires on Saturday,marking a meaningful display of support for the former regime and signaling a potential political shift in the country. The rally, organized by retired military officers and right-wing groups, drew an estimated 3,000-4,000 people to the Plaza San Martín, according to local media reports.
Demonstrators waved Argentine flags and banners praising the military junta, wich ruled during a period known as the “Dirty War,” characterized by widespread human rights abuses, including the forced disappearance of an estimated 30,000 people. Participants chanted slogans defending the military’s actions, claiming they were necessary to combat leftist guerrillas and restore order.
The event comes amid a rise in pro-military sentiment in Argentina, fueled by a growing conservative movement and frustration with the country’s ongoing economic and political crises. Presidential candidate Javier Milei, a far-right libertarian, has repeatedly questioned the extent of the abuses committed during the dictatorship and has courted support from veterans and their families.
“This is a demonstration of a sector of society that feels nostalgic for the dictatorship and believes that the military’s actions were justified,” said political analyst Leandro Morgenfeld. “It’s a worrying sign for human rights defenders and a reminder of the deep divisions that still exist in Argentine society.”
Human rights organizations condemned the rally, calling it an affront to the victims of the dictatorship and their families. “These demonstrations are an attempt to whitewash the crimes of the past and deny the suffering of those who were persecuted and disappeared,” said a statement from the Madres de Plaza de Mayo, a group of mothers whose children were “disappeared” during the military regime.
The rally took place as Argentina prepares for presidential elections in October, with the outcome perhaps shaping the country’s approach to reckoning with its past.