OMM Newsroom
Students, teachers and university staff marched toward Argentina’s Congress building in the capital, Buenos Aires, on Thursday. They called on President Javier Milei’s government to implement a law that raises university workers’ salaries and expands financial support to cover higher education institutions’ operating costs.
“We are demanding that the government finally comply with the law,” one university representative said.
Local media reported that police used tear gas to disperse the protesters. Authorities erected barricades around Congress and restricted vehicle access to the area.
Dispute over implementation of the law
Argentina’s Congress approved additional funding for universities adjusted for inflation in August 2025. Milei vetoed the law the following month, arguing that the bill did not specify how the additional spending would be financed. The Senate rejected the veto in October 2025.
Milei’s party is the largest political force in both chambers of parliament, but it does not hold an absolute majority in either.
The president later approved the law but added a condition that it would not take effect until a source of funding was found. Universities and trade unions challenged that condition in court.
After legal proceedings, Argentina’s Supreme Court in June upheld a ruling requiring Milei’s government to implement the law’s provisions on salaries and scholarships. The government has nevertheless yet to fully enforce the law.
Protests held in other cities across the country
The march in Buenos Aires was part of a nationwide day of protests demanding funding for higher education. Trade unions, opposition parties and civil society organizations also held demonstrations in other Argentine cities.
