Tear gas and water cannons fired as Argentina university funding protest turns violent

BUENOS AIRES, Oct 16 — Argentine demonstrators clashed with police at a major protest in Buenos Aires over budget cuts to higher education spending under President Javier Milei. Thousands of university students, staff, trade unionists, and opposition activists gathered outside parliament, but the main demonstration remained peaceful.

However, a group of mostly hooded demonstrators broke away, throwing stones and other projectiles at the police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. The clashes lasted about an hour, resulting in at least 25 arrests and eight injured police officers, according to sources from the National Security Ministry.

Demonstrators urged, "Let's occupy the streets, like in France!" echoing grievances similar to those seen in French protests for better classroom conditions. Student Victoria Coronel highlighted concerns echoing the French students, stating, "Broken things don’t get fixed." "Teachers leave us because their salaries are not enough," Coronel told AFP.

This fifth protest over the education funding crisis since Milei's presidency in late 2023 followed court rulings ordering the government to comply with a 2025 law requiring increased funding for public universities. National Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva accused the protesters of seeking to "sow chaos," emphasizing that the right to protest does not justify violence.

Milei, who came to office promising economic revival and inflation control through welfare state reduction, has drastically reduced public spending, affecting hospitals, universities, and pensioners. Inflation has been tamed, but universities have suffered a 41% drop in real terms spending in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2023.

The 2025 University Funding Law, which mandates inflation-linked salary increases, student scholarships restoration, and more funding for university operations, was adopted by Congress but vetoed by Milei, a decision later overturned by parliament. The government has yet to implement the law despite multiple court rulings, including a Supreme Court order in June.

Francisca Staiti, general secretary of the teachers’ union Conadu Historica, demanded that the government pay what it owes, while Presidential spokesman Adrian Ravier claimed the law was "suspended" while legal action is pursued.