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Original article: La universidad pública encara a Milei en la calle: estudiantes, docentes y rectores marchan hoy contra la motosierra

Public University Mobilizes Against Milei: Students, Faculty, and Rectors March to Protest Budget Cuts

The public university system is once again confronting the Argentine government led by President Javier Milei in a demonstration on the streets. Students, faculty, rectors, and unions will mobilize today, May 12, in a new Federal University March centered in Plaza de Mayo to oppose budget cuts, wage erosion, and the failure to implement the University Financing Law.

The protest, organized by the National Interuniversity Council (CIN) and various sector unions, aims to reignite the political momentum from previous mobilizations during the tenure of the so-called “libertarian” president, as this week shapes up to be the most contentious for the administration so far this year.

According to El Destape, the main demand from the educational community targets the core of the austerity and cuts program known as the ‘chainsaw’. Universities claim that the freezing of funding prevents normal operations. Furthermore, the declining salaries of faculty and university workers are struggling amid inflation that has devastatingly surpassed 32% over the past year. There is also a pressing demand for the enforcement of the University Financing Law, which was passed by Congress but partially vetoed by the Executive, as it stipulates salary adjustments and automatic fund transfers.

In this context, various academic sectors have warned that the current situation threatens the continuation of research activities.

Buenos Aires University Hospitals Lack Funding

Tensions escalated in the days leading up to the march after the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) publicly reported that its affiliated hospitals—such as the Clinical Hospital, the Dental Hospital, and the Garrahan Pediatric Hospital—did not receive operational funds in the first four months of the year.

“So far this year, the National Government has not sent funds for the operational functioning of the hospitals,” the UBA alerted in a statement that set off alarm bells.

The director of the Clinical Hospital, Marcelo Melo, went further at a press conference, stating that they had not received “a single peso from the hospital operating budget.”

“The hospital cannot purchase supplies, medications, or pay fees,” he warned.

The “libertarian” government claimed that resources had been transferred. However, UBA’s Vice-Rector, Emiliano Yacobitti, shared on social media an official response from Alejandro Álvarez, Deputy Secretary of University Policies, acknowledging that funds for university hospitals had not been transferred.

“To the admission of the authorities… comply with the law,” Yacobitti demanded.

General Confederation of Labor Joins the Mobilization

The exchange revealed the financial distress that universities are experiencing and provided a significant rationale for the mobilization today.

A politically sensitive piece of news for the Casa Rosada is the support from the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) for the university march. The labor union confirmed its backing and will join the protest in Plaza de Mayo amid rising social unrest.

“We mobilize in defense of education, public universities, and national science. Defending public universities means defending the right to a better future, the nation’s development, production, and Argentine jobs,” the CGT stated. The Association of State Workers (ATE) also joined the call, as reported by El Destape.

This march comes at a time of heightened tension for Milei’s government, amidst a scandal involving his Chief of Staff, Manuel Adorni, and an investigation for illicit enrichment due to a suspicious increase in assets since taking office. In a scenario of “libertarian” austerity, the case dubbed ‘Adornigate’ has significantly impacted public opinion. A recent poll by Management & Fit revealed that 54.3% of respondents disapprove of the current administration, while the approval rating for the far-right leader Milei has dropped to 37.2%, nearly ten percentage points lower than in February.

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