Public university protests escalate in challenge to Argentina's President Milei

By ISABEL DEBRE
Updated 12:28 PM CDT, October 21, 2024

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — In a burst of adrenaline, the Argentine students charged into oncoming traffic.

Trucks screeched to a halt. Motorbikes swerved. Some drivers flipped their middle fingers, yelling insults. Others pumped their fists in solidarity, howling, “Public and free education!” as the University of Buenos Aires protesters took over lane after highway lane, their fear turning to gasping, giddy exhilaration as they chanted against libertarian President Javier Milei’s university budget cuts.

. . .

Last week’s road blockades were the latest in a series of protests this month expected to intensify across Argentina in response to Milei’s veto of a law increasing funding for public universities. Many professors began a 48-hour strike Monday.

After convincing centrist lawmakers to abandon their support for the teacher salary boost meant to compensate for sky-high inflation, Milei’s minority far-right government upheld the veto in the Senate earlier this month. The measure would have cost 0.14% of gross domestic product, according to a congressional budget analysis.

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https://apnews.com/article/argentina-university-protest-president-mieli-rightwing-austerity-9e8c6f1eee0cd7f48ea69b7576ec99e7