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- author, Writing
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It was one of the largest protests on record in Argentina since the inauguration of Javier Mille as Argentina's president in December 2023.
Hundreds of thousands of people, especially university students and professors, took to the streets of Buenos Aires and other major cities in Argentina on Tuesday to protest government cuts to higher education in the country.
They were supported by workers and union members who believed that 60-70% of the public budget for universities would be cut.
The cut is part of the “Chainsaw” policy, as Millay calls his plan to reduce the state's contribution to public activities in all sectors and achieve fiscal balance in the stricken Argentine economy.
Ricardo Kelpi, rector of the University of Buenos Aires (UPA), a public institution with more than 300,000 students, warned a local radio station that “we must stop operating.” .
He pointed out The cuts affect faculty salaries, research activities and health careAs UBA manages five general hospitals.
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Chanting “UBA is not for sale, UBA defends itself,” thousands of protesters marched from the congressional headquarters in the Argentine capital to the Casa Rosada, the seat of the president.
Some young people carried books in their hands against the Miley government, which won the 2023 presidential election with a comfortable majority.
image source, Good pictures
image source, Good pictures
The older generation also accompanied the students.
“I have come to defend the public university and because my policies are far from those of the present government”82-year-old architect Pedro Palm, who graduated from UBA, told Reuters.
image source, Good pictures
The strike was also supported by the country's main trade union body, the General Confederation of Labour.
Miley's plan includes laying off thousands of officials and eliminating various government programs.
image source, Good pictures
On Monday night, Millay gave a speech on national television in which he celebrated his government's economic achievements – such as a 0.2% fiscal surplus. An “Economic Miracle” A product of their adjustment policies.
“Despite opposition from a good section Installation Argentina's politics and economy, our plan works for those who systematically question our ideas and fail to return to power,” he said.
Argentina has not posted a quarterly fiscal surplus since 2008.
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