Senate overturns Milei’s veto of university financing law in Argentina
Argentina’s Senate has overturned President Javier Milei’s veto of a law increasing funding for the country’s public universities, marking a rare legislative defeat for the libertarian leader.
The move, backed by 58 senators with only seven opposing, obliges the government to implement the measure despite Milei’s efforts to block it.
The bill, originally approved by Congress in August, guarantees higher budgets for national universities and salary increases for teaching and non-teaching staff. Milei rejected the law in September, arguing it jeopardised his government’s goal of achieving a “zero deficit” through sweeping austerity measures.
Thursday’s debate took place as students, academics and health workers gathered outside Congress in Buenos Aires, protesting against the president’s cuts to education and other sectors. Many carried placards denouncing the veto and warning that underfunding universities threatened both access to education and Argentina’s long-term development.
Public universities hold particular weight in Argentina, where tuition has been free since 1949 and nearly two million students are enrolled in state institutions, compared with around half a million in private universities. Supporters of the law framed the issue as not only financial but also political and moral, accusing Milei of undermining a fundamental social right.
This is not the first time Milei has attempted to block higher education funding. A similar law was vetoed in 2024, though Congress then upheld his decision. This time, however, lawmakers in both chambers united to reject his stance. In the same session, the Senate also overturned Milei’s veto of a law declaring a state of emergency in paediatric healthcare, further highlighting the political pushback against his austerity agenda.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
