Large crowds marched in cities across Argentina on Tuesday to protest President Javier Milei’s cuts to public university funding, with the main rally gathering near the presidential palace in Buenos Aires. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The protests came as demonstrators pressed the government to implement a 2025 university funding law and reverse budget cuts to the tuition-free public university system. Argentina’s public universities have been tuition-free since 1949. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The government has refused to put the law into effect and is challenging it in court. The reports said public anger was also fed by Milei’s sliding approval ratings, a shrinking economy, falling real wages, rising unemployment and corruption allegations. [2]
The University of Buenos Aires estimated the Buenos Aires demonstration at 600,000 people, while police had not released an official crowd figure at the time of reporting. The university said the march was one of the biggest campus protests since Milei took office in late 2023. [3, 4]
A protester in Buenos Aires told CNA she was there to defend public education, saying, “我來這裡是為了捍衛公共教育。” [3] Another quoted protester said the cuts were not a distant threat but were happening now. [3]
The rallies were described as the fourth major university-budget demonstration since Milei took office. His government has sharply reduced public education spending as part of a wider drive to cut state spending. [2, 3, 4]
