Government dismisses university march as 'completely political'

The Argentine government has preemptively dismissed the upcoming Federal University March, scheduled for Tuesday, as a "completely political" maneuver. Minister of Human Capital, Sandra Pettovello, and Secretary of University Policies, Alejandro Álvarez, voiced this stance, aiming to counter accusations from the university sector and challenge the data they employ for decision-making.

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There is a genuine claim for salaries that we can understand and it is within the framework of the Constitution that any union can claim a salary improvement.

In a press briefing, Pettovello and Álvarez announced plans to establish a commission within weeks to overhaul the budget allocation criteria for university hospitals nationwide. This initiative comes as a significant portion of the nearly 80 billion pesos allocated for these hospitals remains unspent in 2026. The officials asserted that the redistribution would encompass all university hospitals, noting that the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) currently accounts for "95%" of the demand.

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But this, the characteristics it has, is strongly influenced by politics.

Álvarez specifically addressed the salary demands of academic and non-academic staff, acknowledging the "genuine claim for salaries" as a constitutional right. However, he strongly suggested that the current mobilization is heavily influenced by political actors, questioning the presence of social organizations and unions not directly related to university affairs. He pointed to instances like university rectors meeting with Governor Axel Kicillof and the CGT (General Confederation of Labor) as evidence of this political entanglement, arguing that such involvement deviates from a purely academic protest.

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So, I didn't take a photo with (Governor Axel,) Kicillof. The rectors took it. I didn't go to a meeting with the CGT. So, if it were a purely university claim, why do they need social actors who do not have a direct relationship to be present?