Clashes erupt at Argentine student protests against President Milei's austerity policies

Protesters took to the streets in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, to demonstrate against libertarian President Javier Milei's cost-cutting measures for education.

Thousands of students, university staff, trade unionists and opposition supporters crowded outside the parliament, demanding the implementation of a law to finance universities.

While the rally was largely peaceful, clashes also erupted, with reports of masked individuals throwing stones at police, injuring at least eight officers. Some 25 people were arrested, according to the country's National Security Ministry.

Reports said other protesters had tried to push those throwing stones back. Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva said the protesters wanted to "sow chaos," posting on her X account that the right to protest is not "a right to exercise violence."

This was the fifth protest over the Milei government's education spending to take place since Milei entered office in 2023. Such a demonstration also took place in May, in which organizers say some 1.5 million people took part.

Milei vetoed a law, passed by Congress in 2025, requiring the government to invest more money in public universities.

The University Funding Law says the state should increase employees' salaries in line with inflation dated to December 2023. It also calls for the restoration of student scholarships and more funding for universities' operations.

Congress subsequently overrode Milei's veto, and several court rulings have instructed the government to release the funds, but it has so far refused to do so.

According to Milei, who was elected after promising wide-ranging cost-cutting measures, justified his veto by saying "there is no money" for inflation-linked spending increases.

A government spokesperson said the law had been "suspended" due to the government's legal action against it.

The first half of 2026 saw public spending on universities fall by 41% in real terms, according to the Center for National Economic Research of the University of Buenos Aires.

Argentina's education system is considered to be among the best in South America. Study at public universities is free, drawing students from across the region.