Argentina recently saw one of its largest protests in the last twenty years, a direct response to President Javier Milei’s strict educational policies.
Since taking office, Milei has rapidly implemented fiscal austerity measures aimed at reducing government size and spending.
His administration has halted public works, closed various state agencies, and laid off thousands of government workers.
It has also cut pensions and salaries. These severe austerity measures have hit public universities hard, triggering a significant public backlash.
Public universities in Argentina are crucial for families from lower and middle-class backgrounds.
They offer hope and opportunity amid ongoing economic and political crises.
Recently, images of students studying in dimly lit rooms or outdoors due to funding cuts have sparked outrage across various political groups.
This includes Peronists, leftists, and even some former supporters of Milei.
The government’s efforts to tarnish the reputation of public education have intensified tensions.
Milei’s claims of academic indoctrination and labeling the education system as a socialist trap have drawn widespread condemnation.
The financial situation facing the nation’s universities is dire. They have funding only until July.
Even the prestigious University of Buenos Aires (UBA) is facing a nearly 70% budget cut due to inflation rates nearing 300%.
The current protests have attracted hundreds of thousands, potentially up to 800,000 people in Buenos Aires alone, surpassing official lower estimates.
Background – Milei’s Austerity Measures Spark Nationwide Backlash
Students are frustrated, yet in early 2024, Argentina ushered in a new era of economic stability, achieving a fiscal surplus of 0.2 percent of its GDP.
For three consecutive months, including March, the nation maintained a financial surplus, a feat last accomplished sixteen years ago.
March alone saw a financial gain of 276.638 billion pesos ($317 million), even after settling debt interest payments amounting to 348.396 billion pesos ($399 million).
Such financial prudence hadn’t been seen since 2008, marking a significant shift in the nation’s fiscal landscape.