Argentina: Demonstrators demand more money for universities

Argentina: Demonstrators demand more money for universities October 16, 2026In Argentina, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets against cuts in the education sector. In Buenos Aires alone, thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the Congress building on Thursday (local time). Large rallies also took place in other university cities. Students, university employees, trade unionists, and opposition politicians demanded better funding for public universities. The protests were directed against the austerity policy of right-wing president Javier Milei. The rally in Buenos Aires initially proceeded peacefully. Then, masked demonstrators broke away from the crowd and threw stones and other objects at security forces. Other participants attempted to push the rioters back, according to the newspaper "Clarín". The police used tear gas and water cannons. According to the Ministry of Security, at least 25 people were arrested. Eight police officers were injured. The newspaper "La Nación" reports ten injured officers. Government Refuses to Implement a Law At the heart of the protests is a dispute that has lasted for years over the financing of public universities in the South American country. The Argentine parliament had passed a law providing additional funds for university operations. President Milei vetoed it, but it was overridden by the parliament. The law provides, among other things, salary increases for university employees to be adjusted retroactively to December 2023 for inflation. Scholarships for students are also to be reintroduced, and additional funds for university operations are to be provided. However, the government refuses to release the planned funds. It argues that the law is suspended due to planned legal action. However, the Argentine Supreme Court had confirmed the legality of the law and demanded its implementation in June. The Association of Public Universities (CIN) sharply criticized the government's actions. They violate a social consensus that has always given education a high priority. The association warned that with the current financing, the universities will no longer be able to fulfill their basic tasks in the coming year. Universities Lose Researchers and Employees Since taking office in December 2023, Milei has pursued a comprehensive austerity course. His government cut thousands of jobs in the public sector, reduced subsidies, and suspended social programs. Public universities are also affected. Their budget has been nearly halved under Milei's rule. The consequences are already clearly felt. According to the universities, by 2025, more than 10,000 researchers had left their positions at public universities. Milei repeatedly accused university administrations of corruption and the misuse of public funds. The Argentine higher education system enjoys a particularly good reputation in Latin America. Studying at public universities is free. This is why the country also attracts numerous young people from other countries in the region. Critics of the government fear that the cuts will not only jeopardize the quality of higher education but also harm Argentina's long-term economic and scientific development. Protests Against Milei's Reform Policy Continue The recent demonstrations were already the fifth large rally for better university financing since Milei took office. The conflict has been affecting the country since 2024. In May of this year, according to the organizers, around 1.5 million people participated in corresponding protests nationwide. On a poster at the recent rally in Buenos Aires, it read: "Let's occupy the streets, like in France". The demonstrator was referencing the ongoing mass protests by French students. The demonstrators also turned against further reform plans by the president. Among other things, they demanded the repeal of a comprehensive decree on economic deregulation, which also affects the rental market. Milei's economic policy has also shown successes. Through drastic spending cuts, Argentina has achieved a budget surplus for the first time in 14 years. In addition, inflation, which was previously extremely high, has significantly decreased. pgr/AR (dpa, afp, epd)