Milei vetoes university funding bill, ignites feud with opposition

Milei Vetoes University Funding Bill, Sparks Feud with Opposition

Milei kept his word to not let anything affect his zero-deficit policies

Argentine President Javier Milei vetoed a bill funding public universities, citing concerns about public finances’ sustainability. The bill aimed to update allowances and wages in response to the country’s high inflation rate of 236.7% yoy. Milei’s veto sparked opposition, with lawmakers planning to challenge it through Parliamentarian means.

The rejected bill would have a budgetary impact of 0.14% of the GDP, a figure Milei deemed unsustainable. He also criticized the bill for providing privileges to university staff. Opposition parties seek to reverse the veto, but Milei’s party lacks the majority. Former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and other political figures joined protests against the veto.

The opposition blocs have requested a meeting next week to address the veto, setting the stage for a contentious political battle.