Argentine lawmakers mark 200th anniversary of independence

Argentine federal lawmakers commemorated on Wednesday the 200th anniversary of their nation’s Declaration of Independence.

The legislators traveled to the northwestern province of Tucuman for the event, held in the house in San Miguel de Tucuman where the declaration was adopted on July 9, 1816.

“It is an unprecedented event in the history of our country that representatives from the National Congress travel to the place where our country was born,” the speaker of the lower house, Emilio Monzo, said in a speech.

He was joined for the occasion by Senate head Federico Pinedo, Argentine Vice President Gabriela Michetti, Tucuman Gov. Juan Manzur and the speaker of the provincial legislature, Osvaldo Jaldo, among other dignitaries.

A special session of the federal Congress was scheduled for later Wednesday in San Miguel de Tucuman, the cradle of Argentine independence.

Bicentennial Week in San Miguel will culminate Saturday in with a ceremony led by Argentine President Mauricio Macri, with the guests to include Spanish King Emeritus Juan Carlos and the leaders of several Latin American countries.