Travellers with plans to head to the Atlantic coast for the long weekend should brace for possible delays, as members of municipal separatist groups, known collectively as the New Municipalities Association, have announced disruptions on Route 2 scheduled for today at 6pm and Monday evening.
The announcement comes at the start of the long weekend in recognition of National Sovereignty Day. Route 2 is a major transport vein connecting Buenos Aires with the coastal city of Mar del Plata and other seaside resort towns.
The protesters, under the slogan “Without autonomy, there will be no summer at the Coast”, plan to march along Route 2 concentrating specifically on the area around Alpargatas. Monday’s protest will focus on the area near Coronel Vidal, about 60km from Mar del Plata.
Traffic is expected to be heavier than usual given the film festival currently taking place in Mar del Plata, which concludes this weekend.
The protesters come from various provincial localities all seeking autonomy from the municipalities they currently belong to. Among the would-be secessionist districts are Quequén, Huanguelén, Santa Clara del Mar, Comandante Nicanor Otamendi, and Batán, which are seeking independence from Necochea, Coronel Suárez, Mar Chiquita, General Alvarado, and General Pueyrredón, respectively.
It is hoped among protesters that Friday and Monday’s actions will open a dialogue with provincial Governor Daniel Scioli and provincial Minister of the Government Cristina Álvarez Rodríguez. Travellers using Route 2 should be prepared for potential delays to and from Buenos Aires.
…nice if the article would say why they are “seeking autonomy from the municipalities.”
The organisation believes that the creation of smaller municipalities within the province will enable more direct democratic participation for citizens and thus improve local infrastructure, health, security, and education, among other things, which they believe are otherwise not reaching their full potential.