Argentines Reject President Milei’s Veto on University Funding
Argentine university students protest by taking classes in the streets, Oct. 8, 2024. X/ @SzymuraYuli
October 9, 2024 Hour: 10:50 am
Citizens took over 12 universities across the country to demand respect for public education.
On Wednesday, teachers and students reacted strongly to President Javier Milei’s veto of a law on funding public universities, which had been recently approved by the Argentine Parliament.
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Citizens took over 12 universities across the country to demand respect for public education. Among the most notable protest actions were holding classes on the streets, vigils, and assemblies. The protests took place at institutions like the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), the National University of the Arts (UNA), the University of San Martin (Unsam), Jose Paz University (Unpaz), the University of Tres de Febrero (Untref), the National University of Cordoba (UNC), and the National University of Rosario (UNR).
This conflict began in the early months of the year, with growing protests from professors, non-teaching staff, and students against Milei’s decision not to adjust the budget allocated to education. Public funds for higher education have suffered a sharp cut in real terms due to Argentina’s high inflation, which reached a peak of 289 percent year-over-year in April.
In that month, progressive politicians pushed a university funding bill in Parliament, which was finally passed on September 13. However, on October 3, Milei vetoed the law, which required updating the funds for the operating expenses of universities and adjusting salaries in line with inflation.
In vetoing the law, Milei argued that its implementation would compromise fiscal balance. According to estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, however, the law would only have a budgetary impact equivalent to 0.14 percent of GDP, a figure that would not significantly affect public finances.
The Constitution allows Parliament to reconsider a law that has been vetoed by the president. If this happens, at least two-thirds of favorable votes will be needed to reapprove the university funding law. If Parliament rejects the presidential veto, Milei does not rule out taking the matter to court, as he believes the law is “flawed” because it does not specify where the funds should come from to cover the expenses.
In Argentina, access to public university education has been free for students since 1949. Most of the 57 public universities have historically maintained the highest levels of performance, and their academic reputation is well-known throughout Latin America.
Free education has allowed large sectors of the population to access university studies in Argentina. In this South American country poverty weighs more heavily on young people than the national average: 6 out of 10 people between the ages of 15 and 29 cannot meet their basic needs, according to official data from the first half of 2024.
The importance of public higher education is also significant in Argentina. In 2022, there were 510,221 students enrolled in private universities and almost 2 million students in public universities.
teleSUR/ JF Sources: Noticias Argentinas – EFE
