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Argentina education protests and Chile's budget marches explained

From a university funding standoff in Buenos Aires to protests over Jose Antonio Kast's first budget in Santiago, education has become the front line of South America's austerity fights. Here is what happened this month and why it matters.

By Rowan Ashby Published 21.10.26 11:57 UTC 7 min read

The Palace of the Argentine National Congress in Buenos Aires with its green copper dome under a blue sky — Felipe Restrepo Acosta / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Key takeaways

In Argentina and Chile, students, teachers and unions are back on the streets this month to protest against education spending restraint by right-leaning governments.
In Buenos Aires, the fifth Federal University March on October 15, 2026 demanded that President Javier Milei's government apply a university funding law. Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva put turnout at about 12,000, of whom she said 200 to 300 were violent; 31 people were detained and eight officers injured, by her account.
In Santiago, students marched on October 1 against possible cuts in President Jose Antonio Kast's first budget, and thousands joined an October 18 march marking seven years since Chile's 2019 unrest. Authorities reported 17 and at least 29 detentions respectively.
Both governments say they are fixing public finances and that the right to protest does not cover violence. Organizers say the cuts are hollowing out public education and accuse the authorities of heavy-handed policing.
The fight is now moving to courts and budget debates: Argentina's funding law dispute is before the courts, and Chile's Congress is debating the 2027 budget.

Argentina education protests returned on October 15, 2026, when the fifth Federal University March in Buenos Aires demanded that President Javier Milei's government apply a university funding law. In Santiago, students marched on October 1 against possible cuts in President Jose Antonio Kast's first budget. Separately, a judge has dismissed the LIBRA memecoin case against Milei.

Argentina: the university funding law standoff

Background

Milei, a libertarian economist, took office in December 2023 promising a "chainsaw" to public spending. His government has cut thousands of public-sector jobs, reduced subsidies and phased out social programs, according to the Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA, and has significantly cut the public university budget. University institutions said in May that real budget transfers had fallen 45.6% between 2023 and 2026, a figure from the universities themselves that Bullquill has not independently verified.

The legal dispute centers on a university funding law that Congress approved in 2025. Milei vetoed it, Congress overrode the veto, and the government has not released the funds, Keystone-SDA reported. The dispute is also before the courts. The government argues that it cannot spend money it does not have and that universities must be more accountable for how funds are used.

What happened on October 15

Thousands of students, teachers, university staff and union members gathered outside Congress in Buenos Aires for the fifth Federal University March, organized by the National Interuniversity Council (CIN), the Argentine University Federation (FUA) and university unions, Anadolu Agency reported. The demonstration was peaceful until groups of hooded people threw stones and other objects at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon, AFP reported. The central rally ended early, around 4:40 p.m. local time, because of heavy rain and the clashes, according to La Nacion as cited by Anadolu.

Inside Congress, an opposition-called special session of the Chamber of Deputies, which was to consider overturning Milei's sweeping deregulation decree, collapsed for lack of quorum, Perfil reported. Protesters had also called for that decree to be repealed.

The numbers, and who gives them

Item	Figure	Source
Turnout, October 15 (Buenos Aires)	About 12,000, including 200 to 300 violent	Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva (Radio Mitre, via Perfil)
Turnout, May 2026 university march (nationwide)	1.5 million	Organizers, via Keystone-SDA
Detained, October 15	31, including two minors (other reports: 25)	Monteoliva; La Nacion via Anadolu
Security officers injured	8	Ministry of Security, via Perfil
Damage around Congress	About 90 million pesos (preliminary)	Buenos Aires city government, via Perfil
Still detained days later	4 adults, charged with resisting authority	Rights group Correpi, via Perfil

Organizers had not published a turnout estimate for October 15 in the reporting reviewed.

Government and protester positions

Monteoliva defended the police operation, saying the right to demonstrate does not justify violence and that those who attacked officers or damaged property would face justice. She described the incidents as "terrorism," Perfil reported. Her ministry filed a criminal complaint asking prosecutors to investigate resistance to authority, aggravated damage and an attack on the constitutional order, arguing the disturbances aimed to disrupt Congress. Perfil reported that no session was under way when the clashes took place, and that, so far, those still held face only the lesser charge of resisting authority. Cabinet chief Diego Santilli called the perpetrators "criminals" and linked the violence to the opposition.

Organizers condemned the police response and repeated their demand that the government comply with the law. A Peronist lawmaker called for an end to what he described as "unnecessary repression." Perfil reported that no violence was seen in the university columns themselves.

Chile: Kast's first budget meets the students

Background

Kast, a conservative, took office in March 2026 promising austerity, AFP reported. On September 30 he presented his first budget, for 2027, with increases of 9.1% in security spending and 8.1% in growth and employment funds. In a televised address, he said free public higher education would continue for more than 600,000 students, although his government had considered limiting it months earlier. He did not say whether university budgets would be cut.

What happened

October 1: Students marched from Plaza Italia toward the La Moneda presidential palace under the slogan "Not one peso less for education," AFP reported. Authorities estimated about 6,000 participants. Police stopped the march after roughly 800 meters and used tear gas and water cannon; some protesters threw stones and bottles. The Interior Ministry reported 17 detentions.
October 18: Thousands marched in Santiago to mark seven years since the 2019 social unrest and to oppose the government's fiscal adjustments, Perfil reported. Carabineros said the march began peacefully before a hooded group attacked officers with blunt objects and petrol bombs. At least 29 people were detained and six officers injured, according to authorities.

Government and protester positions

Security Minister Martin Arrau said one officer suffered a facial injury from a firework and argued that society rejects legitimizing violence. Kast has long been critical of the 2019 protests. Student groups say the budget prioritizes security over education and fear cuts to public universities. Public opinion is divided: a Criteria poll cited by Perfil found that 59% view the 2019 unrest negatively, but 68% say its demands remain unresolved.

What it means

Education as a political red line: In both countries, free public higher education enjoys broad support well beyond the left. That makes universities a harder target for spending cuts than many other budget lines, and explains why their supporters can mobilize large crowds.
Fiscal discipline versus services: Milei credits spending restraint with bringing down inflation, and Kast argues that public finances need repair. Critics say the savings are being made at the expense of public services and future growth. The debate will be settled partly by economic results and partly at the ballot box.
Policing and protest rights: Both governments have taken a tough line on violence at the edges of mostly peaceful marches. Argentina's use of serious charges such as "attack on the constitutional order," which courts have often not upheld in past cases according to Perfil, is a point of contention for rights groups.
A regional pattern: Colombia's new right-wing government has also faced its first nationwide protests this month over spending and protest rules. Together, the three cases show how students, teachers and unions are becoming the main organized opposition to a wave of right-leaning governments in South America.

What comes next

Argentina: Court rulings on whether the government must apply the university funding law, and the fate of the criminal complaint against protesters. Universities have not yet announced the date of a sixth national march.
Chile: Congress's debate on the 2027 budget, including any changes to education spending, which the constitution requires lawmakers to dispatch within 60 days of its submission on September 30.
Both: Whether student federations escalate with strikes or occupations, as they have in the past, and whether governments offer concessions.

Frequently asked questions

Why are students protesting in Argentina?

They want President Javier Milei's government to apply a university funding law that Congress passed in 2025 and then upheld over his veto. Universities say budget transfers have fallen sharply in real terms since 2023. The government says it must keep spending under control.

What happened at the October 15 march in Buenos Aires?

Thousands gathered outside Congress for the fifth Federal University March. The protest was largely peaceful until hooded groups threw stones at police, who used tear gas and water cannon. The security minister said about 12,000 people attended, 31 were detained and eight officers were injured.

Why are students protesting in Chile?

Students fear cuts to public education in President Jose Antonio Kast's first budget, for 2027. Kast has said free higher education will continue for more than 600,000 students but has not said whether university budgets will be cut.

How many people were detained in Chile?

Chile's Interior Ministry reported 17 detentions at the October 1 student march, and authorities reported at least 29 detentions and six injured officers at the October 18 march marking seven years since the 2019 unrest.

What happens next?

In Argentina, courts are considering the dispute over the funding law and prosecutors are reviewing a government complaint against protesters. In Chile, Congress is debating the 2027 budget. Student groups in both countries have signaled further mobilizations.