Argentine demonstration over education cuts ends in clashes

Buenos Aires witnessed clashes between demonstrators and police during a demonstration against the government's budget cuts to higher education spending on Thursday. The main protest, involving thousands of university students, staff, trade unionists, and opposition activists, remained peaceful. However, a group of hooded demonstrators broke away from the crowd and threw stones and other projectiles at the police, who responded by deploying tear gas and water cannons. The violent clashes lasted approximately an hour.

One young female demonstrator held a placard that read, "Let's occupy the streets, like in France!" mirroring ongoing mass protests in France for improved classroom conditions. Victoria Coronel, a student from the University of Matanza in Buenos Aires province, shared similar grievances with French students, including "broken things don't get fixed" and teachers leaving the profession due to low salaries.

This protest marked the fifth over the education funding crisis since President Javier Milei took office in late 2023. The protests follow multiple court rulings ordering the government to comply with a 2025 law requiring him to allocate more funds to public universities. Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva accused the protesters of "wanting to sow chaos," emphasizing that "the right to protest is not a right to exercise violence."

Milei, who campaigned on reviving Argentina's ailing economy and taming inflation, has reduced inflation through significant public spending cuts. These cuts have adversely affected public hospitals, universities, and pensioners. He has justified vetoes of inflation-linked spending increases by arguing that "there is no money" to fund them.

The 2025 University Funding Law, which calls for inflation-linked salary increases for university staff, restoration of student scholarships, and increased funding for university operations, was adopted by Congress but subsequently vetoed by Milei. The government has never implemented the law despite various court rulings, most recently a Supreme Court decision in June ordering them to do so. Presidential spokesman Adrian Ravier stated on Tuesday that the law was "suspended" while the government pursued legal action.