In Argentina, it was a victory for Javier Milei. The opposition failed yesterday, Wednesday October 9, to lift the veto from the ultraliberal president to the increase in the university budget voted by Parliament in mid-September. The austerity policy and the government’s budget cuts in education spending had nevertheless provoked a large social movement, which could now deepen.
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With our correspondent in Buenos Aires, Théo Conscience
Nothing happened. Neither the massive demonstrations which brought together more than a million people last week, nor the occupations of universities by students across the country since Tuesday October 8, nor the new mobilization in front of Congress Argentineyesterday.
No qualified majority
The opposition failed to achieve the qualified majority of two thirds of deputies necessary to lift the veto of Javier Milei to the increase in the university budget. The law passed by Parliament in mid-September provided for a budget update based on inflation, which currently exceeds 236% annually. In particular, it would have made it possible to increase the salaries of teachers who have lost a third of their purchasing power since the start of the year.
An unacceptable cost
The cost of this measure, around 0.14% of GDP, was considered unacceptable by Javier Milei, who used his veto presidential in order to preserve “ at all costs » the balance of public accounts. After the vote of the deputies, the teaching unions announced a strike this Thursday, October 10. Student assemblies will also be held to decide on the probable extension of university occupations.
Also readArgentina: Milei “vetos” a law on public universities despite massive mobilization