Opponents failed to reach agreements on Wednesday to discuss increases in funding for public universities, along with two other projects: the Single Paper Ballot and reserved funds for the SIDE.
Following an agreement between radicalism and Peronism, the Senate obtained a majority to advance the ruling sanction of a law on financing for public universities. The opposition anticipates the possibility of a new presidential vetowhile working in the lower house to reverse the pension reform. After failing to reach an agreement to hold a session this Wednesday, a new meeting of Parliamentary Labor will determine when the initiative will be voted on.
The project aims to strengthen -until December 31- the education budget for teaching and non-teaching salaries, operating and research expenses, and maintenance of university infrastructure, in addition to establishing an annual update of the amount and student scholarships. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the cost of the project’s fiscal impact at 0.14% of GDP.a figure that was discussed by the Ministry of Human CapitalFunding for next year will be discussed during the 2025 Budget debate.
“It’s not an ideal project, but it is an agreement to avoid the collapse of the Argentine university system“, the senator understood Wado of Pedro (Union for the Fatherland), head of the Education and Culture Commission. The opposition’s intention is to obtain a quick ruling and push the treatment of the law – which obtained partial sanction in the Chamber of Deputies – so that will be voted on this Wednesday in the Senate. They could include in the agenda the project of Single Paper Ballot -which has official support- and the repeal of the decree that granted funds reserved for SIDE.
Senate Committees Plenary Session
Mariano Fuchila
On behalf of the Government, it was expressed Ezequiel Atauchepresident of the Budget and Finance Committee“We, the Government, have been supporting and raising education. We have increased, at the time, the education budget by 70%, which had been delayed since 2022. This was not demanded, it was demanded and we understood it as reasonable,” he said, referring to the University March on April 24. “We have to take care of the pockets of Argentine taxpayers”justified the ruling party’s position of maintaining the current financing system.
Senate: debate on university funding
One of the most critical expressions against the Government was that of the Buenos Aires native Martin Lousteau (UCR)arguing that the ruling party “has a special concern for education”, to list: “The Education Commission was formed last week, the FONID was repealed and there was a record university march in the number of people that we have had at any time in democracy. Two months of inflation -January and February- would not have eaten up the salaries of university workers, who lost 20% more purchasing power than other state workers.”
“I think we need to think about solid educational and scientific policies if we want to talk about national prosperity,” said the missionary. Sonia Rojas Decut, advancing the accompaniment of the Renewal Front of Concord provincial, one of the main allies of the Government. Another striking support was that of the Buenos Aires Guadalupe Tagliaferri (PRO), which once again demonstrated autonomy with its bloc.
Sonia Rojas Decut Senate Plenary
Mariano Fuchila
For its part, the Cordoban Carmen Alvarez Rivero (PRO) He anticipated his abstention, stating as an argument that “for this issue be given the depth it deserves if it is going to take home the millions it is going to take home. “Since the entire education system is in crisis, I think we need to make efficient and effective use of resources.”
“This issue requires treatment, with or without an office,” said the man from Formosa in turn. Jose Mayans (Union for the Fatherland), who requested that the session be held this Wednesday and stressed that the state’s revenue this year is US$80 billion: “When they say there is no money or resources, it is not true.”
Source: Ambito
