Argentines Protest Cuts; Officials Resign

Thousands of Argentines marched in Buenos Aires to oppose a new round of government spending cuts that will delay surgeries, close schools and postpone burials.

The protest drew a convoy of hearses driven by funeral directors who said the government has withheld $34 million for funerals dating to 1996, as well as state ambulance drivers who said they don’t have enough money to buy gasoline.

Marcos Makon, secretary of state for modernization, who was in charge of cutting administrative costs, resigned, as did Secretary of Economy Policy Federico Sturzenegger. Patricia Bullrich resigned as social security minister last week.

The government said this week it will slash spending next year by almost 10%--lowering pensions, salaries, health benefits and subsidies for tobacco farmer--after similar reductions this year.

Despite the spending cuts, the government says this year’s deficit will climb to $7.8 billion from a previously forecast $6.5 billion.