Dictatorship-era army officers and supporters rally in Argentina in latest sign of political shift

Former military officers from Argentina’s 1976-1983 dictatorship era and their families held an unusual public rally on Saturday, calling for the release of officers jailed for abuses committed during the junta’s rule — a move that critics say challenges the country’s long-standing promise of “Nunca Más,” or never again, AP reports.

The demonstration took place in Buenos Aires’ Plaza de Mayo, where the grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo have marched for decades demanding justice for thousands of people abducted and disappeared during the dictatorship. Their presence sparked anger among human rights activists and counter-protesters, who view the gathering as an alarming attempt to revise the nation’s history of state terrorism.

The rally comes amid a political shift under President Javier Milei, who has repeatedly framed the dictatorship’s crimes as part of a broader conflict with leftist guerrilla groups. His vice president, Victoria Villarruel—long known for defending military personnel—has also pushed for recognition of what she calls “other victims” of the era. Human rights organizations accuse the government of legitimizing the junta’s widespread killings and disappearances, estimated at up to 30,000 people.

Tensions rose further after Milei appointed Army chief Lt. Gen. Carlos Alberto Presti as defense minister, making him the first military official since Argentina’s return to democracy to hold that post. Supporters at the rally argued that the armed forces have been unfairly vilified and demanded “moral restoration” for imprisoned officers.

But relatives of dictatorship victims condemned the event as deeply offensive, especially given its location. Their outrage followed a U.N. report warning that Milei’s government is rolling back programs dedicated to truth and justice while boosting military spending. Milei officials deny undermining human rights protections, insisting they are committed to an “unbiased historical memory.”