Argentina Budget Cuts Spark University Protests, Reports Reuters

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Public universities in Argentina are set to hold a large demonstration on Wednesday, supported by unions and opposition parties, to protest significant cuts to public spending enacted by President Javier Milei.

The protests were sparked by Milei’s administration, which has threatened to veto a recently passed law aimed at securing university funding. This comes as Argentina grapples with an economic crisis characterized by annual inflation nearing 240% and over half of its population living in poverty.

Ricardo Gelpi, the rector of the University of Buenos Aires, expressed concerns about the government’s intentions, stating, “The government has a systematic, methodical and gradual plan to destroy public education.” The University of Buenos Aires is the largest in the country and ranks among the top 100 globally, according to QS.

Milei’s libertarian government has continually defended its budget cuts by claiming that public universities promote “socialist” ideologies. However, the strong reputation of higher education in Argentina has led to significant social backlash.

Gelpi criticized the government for its plans to veto a financing law he described as a minimal percentage of the country’s GDP, expressing that the administration appears indifferent to education, science, and the social mission of universities.

In April, a demonstration that rallied hundreds of thousands of students and educators compelled Milei to reconsider a proposed budget cut for universities. However, leaders from the prestigious institutions indicated that the government has failed to fulfill pledges for improvement.

While Milei asserts that his economic strategy aims for fiscal balance in Argentina’s struggling economy, critics argue that his measures have been neither careful nor fair, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations and critical sectors like health and education.

Argentina’s Ministry of Human Capital countered the protests, asserting, “Public university education was never defunded. The government’s commitment to public universities has remained firm,” while emphasizing the need for greater clarity in resource management.

According to data from the University of Buenos Aires, which has five Nobel laureates among its alumni, university staff—including both teachers and non-teaching personnel—have experienced a loss of approximately 40% in their purchasing power since December, a decline that continues to worsen, leaving many below the poverty line.