Argentina: New day of protests in defense of public universities

Published at: 12/05/2026 10:43 AM

This Tuesday, Argentina's national universities are going through a new day of massive paralysis in response to educational defunding and the recent presidential veto of the University Funding Act.

The measure of force, which has almost total adherence in the country's 57 schools, seeks to highlight the wage crisis faced by teachers and non-teachers, who report a loss of purchasing power of more than 40% so far this year. This mobilization takes place in a climate of high tension between the academic community and the Executive Branch.

Telesur details that the budgetary conflict, representatives of the education sector have stated that the Argentine public university is going through the most critical moment in its recent history due to a cutback that suffocates the basic functioning of classrooms and laboratories.

Union spokespersons argue that President Javier Milei's veto not only cancels out a necessary wage improvement, but also jeopardizes the continuity of research programs and student grants that guarantee social mobility in the country.

The conflict escalated after the National Government formalized the total veto of the law approved by Congress, arguing that the regulations compromise the objective of “zero deficit” and fiscal balance. Faced with the possibility that the Legislative Branch will insist on the law, the Executive has hinted that it will go to the Supreme Court of Justice to block its application, claiming that it is unconstitutional for Congress to enact spending laws without specifying the source of funding. Meanwhile, takeovers and public classes are multiplying in major urban centers such as Buenos Aires, Córdoba and Rosario.

The persistence of the protests reflects a broad social consensus around public education as a fundamental pillar of Argentina's national identity. Despite official attempts to audit university accounts as a strategy of pressure, the rectors have reaffirmed their willingness to transparency, provided that university autonomy is respected.

The current scenario remains uncertain, with a schedule of struggle that promises to intensify if a negotiating table is not established to contemplate the budget update for the 2025 school year.

Mazo News Team