Argentines rally nationwide to defend free public education and university funding

Last updated: May 13, 2026 | 05:56

A massive march in Buenos Aires, with replicas in other cities of Argentina, demands that Javier Milei's Government allocate funds to public universities, suffocated by the Executive's austerity measures. X | EFE

Tens of thousands of Argentines took to the streets Tuesday in Buenos Aires to protest libertarian President Javier Milei's deep cuts to the budgets of public universities, according to AFP reporters.

The fourth major demonstration over university budgets since Milei took office in December 2023 came a day after it emerged that his government is planning further cuts to education and health spending.

The Buenos Aires protest culminated at the Plaza de Mayo, where the presidential palace is located, and spilled onto surrounding streets.

Large crowds marched through other cities including Cordoba, Mendoza and Tucuman, local television footage showed.

"I'm here to defend public…