Students clash with police over university funding in Buenos Aires
Students, lecturers and university workers took to the streets of Buenos Aires on Thursday to demand that President Javier Milei's government implement the University Financing Law, as clashes erupted between protesters and security forces.
Footage from the fifth Federal University March showed police using water cannon, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse demonstrators outside the National Congress.
Protesters accused the government of undermining public universities through inadequate funding, low salaries and insufficient financial support for students.
“Lecturers are earning poverty wages, when they get paid at all. Researchers are leaving the country,” said Julia, a Brazilian student participating in the demonstration.
The protesters demanded the implementation of legislation aimed at improving salaries for university staff and expanding student grants. Student demonstrator Lautaro accused Milei's administration of refusing to enforce the law despite its approval a year earlier.
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He also criticised rising transport costs, expensive study materials and worsening employment opportunities, arguing that financial pressures were forcing students to abandon their education.
Demonstrators additionally called for the repeal of Emergency Decree 70/2023, which they argued threatened Argentina's sovereignty.
According to local reports, at least 25 protesters were detained during the clashes, while eight security officers were injured.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
