With the veto decided, the university claim – with the support of a good part of the opposition – leaves pressure on the veto club. The PRO maintains silence, provincialisms move away from LLA, UCR concentrates on avoiding leaks.
Once again, the federal university march managed to generate a political fact that is a rarity in the local situation: the transversality of a claim that breaks with party logic. In this case, in favor of the University Financing Law sanctioned by Congress and that Javier Milei will veto to support the fiscal front, despite the fact that the norm represents 0.14% of GDP.
As in April, thousands of students took to the streets not only in Buenos Aires but throughout the country to defend the public university, one of the few national prides that is sustained over time. On that occasion, at the dawn of the presidency of Javier Mileithe Government had also lowered the price of the mobilization, predictably. However, the forcefulness of the events led Milei, who usually only looks forward, to decide to take a step back: finally, he expanded the amounts for the operation of the study houses by 70%.
The effects now remain to be seen and the impact of the images of the packed streets now point less to the Government, determined to blow up the university financing law, than to the allies of the ruling party on whom it depends to uphold that veto. He PRO, the self-employed radicals and deputies of provincial forces They will have a hot ball in their hands, after having contributed to the ruling party in the previous veto of the retirement reform. Once again, the President will entrust himself to them so as not to show weaknesses: If it does not gather a third of each chamber it will give a sign of weakness outwards, especially towards the markets.
Javier Milei and his communication team remained, even in informal dialogues, tied to the mantra of “the march is political”. Disbelieve impact measurements and nothing will alter the course of concrete policy. That is, the signing of the veto. They even redoubled the bet in the previous one. They raised data on the number of students, the participation of foreigners in enrollment, teacher salaries, and other etc. so as not to alter a slogan that sounds absurd: a human tide moved by partisan interests. Although, strictly speaking, the appearance of what Milei called “the ghost train” in his first reaction to the call: presence on the street of the entire opposition political spectrum, especially Peronism.
In any case, the fact that the march is political is obvious, since it is a fight for budgetary priorities. A report of the Argentine Budget Association (ASAP) He highlighted that the cut so far this year is 32%. Likewise, the 2025 Budget signs $3.8 billion to universities, about half of what the National Interuniversity Council asks for. “If the project for 2025 is not modified, the situation of the universities and the scientific system will be much more serious than what we are going through today. What will be at stake is its continuity. Neither more nor less than that,” stated the president of the Argentine University Federation (FUA), Piera Fernandezin the closing speech.
A fluctuating third
In April the Government had room to lose a battle, in the high levels of approval of the extended honeymoon. On the other hand, in recent days Javier Milei received a host of bad news that made a dent in his ability to respond, and even in setting the agenda, a virtue that he had been exhibiting since the beginning of his administration. The falling image, increasing poverty, stagnating economy They put pressure on the President.
Therefore, this time the symbolic force of the federal march will hardly achieve the effects it did in April. And, instead, he aims to break the veto club. Will university students be able to? “We are going to continue looking at the issue, but not because of the progress, but because of what we create”they told Ámbito from the PRO. It is that the silence of Mauricio Macri generates tension in the bond with Freedom Advancesespecially after its formalization as a party with an event in CABA and with the merger of blocks in the province of Buenos Aires with the yellow ones that respond to Patricia Bullrich. The silence is tactical, since if he rejects the veto, Mauricio Macri will also have a personal challenge: to demonstrate how many legislators respond effectively to his leadership. A mystery that can be clarified.
“The deputies of Río Negro and Misiones have not spoken yet and are going to wait for the day of the session. That is why Federal Innovation did not release a statement”the head of that block in the lower house expressed to this medium, the Pamela Caletti from Saltawho is also a teacher at the public university and expressed himself personally against the veto. The other two Salta deputies in that space will also support the university financing law. In the veto of the retirement reform, this bloc abstained from voting.
Radicalism also came out to play hard after the escape of deputies in the previous veto, which determined suspensions of the adventurers. There is a partisan tradition of defending universities, and many of the political cadres of the UCR are trained in the student centers of the faculties. Now, it aims to achieve unity in the blocks of both chambers.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
