Milei appointee resigns as Paris university residence controversy grows

Santiago Muzio, the controversial director of Casa Argentina student residence in Paris, has resigned amid ongoing criticisms. During his tenure, which began under President Javier Milei's government in 2024, Muzio faced allegations of student expulsions, removal of a plaque commemorating those who disappeared during Argentina's dictatorship, and hosting of far-right political meetings.

Casa Argentina, one of nearly 50 residences at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, houses around 12,000 students, researchers, and artists from 150 nationalities annually. The residence has become a focal point for controversy. Paris City Hall requested an investigation from French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on July 30, expressing concerns about Muzio's management.

Barrot informed that France was currently engaging in discussions with Argentine authorities regarding the situation. Reports from recent AFP articles highlight the experiences of students during the 2025-2026 academic year, who described the residence as a "mini-dictatorship," where they felt in constant fear and lacked freedom of expression.

However, in interviews with French conservative newspaper Journal du Dimanche days before resigning, Muzio stated his intention to "root this place out of the clutches of the far left and woke ideology." His resignation comes days after these comments and weeks prior to Milei's planned visit to France scheduled for later this month.