Argentine student protests against President Milei’s austerity policies erupt in clashes, with 25 arrested

Crowds gather outside parliament

Demonstrators filled the area outside Argentina’s parliament in Buenos Aires, opposing President Javier Milei’s education spending cuts. They called for the government to implement a law providing more funding to universities.

Clashes and arrests reported

The gathering was mostly peaceful, but masked individuals reportedly threw stones at police, injuring at least eight officers. The National Security Ministry said 25 people were arrested. Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva accused protesters of seeking to “sow chaos.” In a post on X, she said the right to protest was not “a right to exercise violence.”

Dispute over university funding

Milei vetoed a law passed by Congress in 2025 that required increased investment in public universities. Congress later overrode the veto, and several court rulings directed the government to release the funds, but it has not done so.

The University Funding Law calls for employee salaries to rise in line with inflation from December 2023. It also provides for restoring student scholarships and increasing money for university operations.

Milei defended his veto by saying “there is no money” for inflation-linked spending increases. A government spokesperson said the law had been “suspended” because of the government’s legal action against it.

Spending cuts and protests

The demonstration was the fifth protest over education spending since Milei took office in 2023. Organizers said about 1.5 million people joined a similar protest in May. Public university study in Argentina is free, and the country’s education system is considered among South America’s best, attracting students from across the region.