President Milei’s Austerity Measures Spark Massive Protests Against Education Spending Cuts

The streets of Argentina were flooded with protesters as hundreds of thousands rallied against President Milei’s drastic austerity measures, particularly focusing on education spending cuts. Students, university professors, trade unions, and opposition political parties joined forces in a massive demonstration to push back against the impact of the president’s policies on public universities.

Aerial footage captured the sea of people occupying the center of Buenos Aires for hours, with similar scenes unfolding in other cities across the country. The University of Buenos Aires reported that over 500,000 individuals participated in the protest in the capital alone, highlighting the widespread discontent among the population.

President Milei, who had campaigned on a promise to slash public spending, has been implementing radical measures to address economic challenges, including shutting down ministries, defunding cultural centers, and cutting subsidies. Despite facing backlash from various sectors, Milei defended his approach as the country achieved its first quarterly fiscal surplus in over a decade.

The education system in Argentina, known for its free public universities, has been hit hard by the government’s austerity policies. With a 71 percent budget cut to public universities, institutions are warning of potential closures that could leave hundreds of thousands of students in limbo. The move has sparked outrage among the population, who view free and quality education as a fundamental right.

As the protests continue to grow in size and intensity, the debate over the future of public spending and education in Argentina remains at the forefront of national discourse. President Milei’s commitment to his austerity measures faces mounting opposition, with demonstrators vowing to defend their right to access affordable and quality education.