Mass protests in Argentina decry Milei's funding cuts to prized public universities

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Tens of thousands of Argentines flooded the streets of major cities nationwide on Tuesday to protest funding cuts by libertarian President Javier Milei to the public university system that represents a near-universal point of pride in this crisis-prone country.

Vast crowds in downtown Buenos Aires marched toward the government headquarters to denounce budget shortfalls eroding the financial foundation of the country's higher education. Argentina's public university system, a cornerstone of its well-educated workforce cherished by its large middle class, has been tuition-free since 1949 and produced five Nobel Prize laureates.

Congress passed a law last year to fund universities’ operational costs and raise teacher salaries in line with high inflation. But the government has not implemented it as it challenges the legislation in court.

Like his powerful backer and ally U.S. President Donald Trump, Milei routinely attacks university campuses as bastions of “woke” indoctrination. He has slashed public education funding as part of his plan to take a chain saw to state funding in a sharp break from what he describes as decades of reckless spending that spawned corruption under his left-leaning predecessors.

Tuesday's protest gathered people of all ages and political persuasions as Milei faces declining approval ratings over slumping economic activity, falling wages and climbing unemployment. A recent series of corruption scandals has also struck a nerve, with fallout particularly growing from an investigation into lavish spending by Milei’s close ally, Cabinet chief Manuel Adorni, that appears inconsistent with his modest public salary and declared assets.

“How much does Adorni cost us?” read one of several student protest signs alluding to the alleged misuse of public funds.

Milei's undersecretary for university policies, Alejandro Álvarez, criticized Tuesday's march as “completely political" and said the government had compensated universities for higher operating costs — marginal increases that unions have rejected as insufficient.

In seeking to annul the legislation, Milei's administration argues that it fails to specify how the state will supply the mandatory funding increases in a time of harsh fiscal austerity. The case is expected to go to the Supreme Court. Student protesters on Tuesday called on the nation's highest court to “listen to the outcry throughout the country's public squares.”

Since Milei took power in late 2023, university professors’ paychecks have declined by roughly 33% after accounting for stubborn inflation, according to the main teachers’ federation.

The rector of the prestigious University of Buenos Aires, Ricardo Gelpi, said the steep losses in purchasing power has driven at least 580 research professors in the engineering and science departments to ditch the public system for private universities or other better-paying jobs.

“It’s very clear this government is determined to defund public education,” said Sol Muñíz, 24, a law student at the University of Buenos Aires at the march. “University is a source of pride for us. It is the best thing we have.”

Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre contributed to this report.

Follow AP’s Latin America coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Demonstrators march to demand President Javier Milei's government comply with a University of Buenos Aires (UBA) funding law, amid deep budget cuts in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Students ride a train to attend a protest for more public university funding in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

People protest for more public university funding in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

People protest to demand more fundings for public universities in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

People protest to demand more funding for public universities in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, May 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

BALTIMORE (AP) — Anthony Volpe's demotion to the minor leagues lasted just a week, and the shortstop rejoined the New York Yankees on Tuesday after José Caballero was diagnosed with a broken right middle finger.

In the midst of a four-game losing streak, New York recalled Volpe from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before Tuesday night's game at the Baltimore Orioles and placed Caballero on the 10-day injured list.

“He's had a number of at-bats and a lot of reps down there, a lot of playing time, kind of a more than a full spring training,” manager Aaron Boone said of Volpe. “So hopefully, he's ready to go and come up here and be a spark for us.”

Volpe arrived around game time and was in the Yankees dugout in the early innings. Max Schuemann started at shortstop for a second straight game.

Boone made it apparent Volpe will get most of the playing time at shortstop until Caballero returns.

“Yeah, I would expect him to,” the manager said. “I would expect Anthony to play a lot.”

A Gold Glove winner as a rookie in 2023, Volpe had surgery Oct. 14 to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He began a 20-day minor league injury rehabilitation assigning on April 14 and was optioned to the RailRiders on May 3 — day 20 — after hitting .250 (11 for 44) with one homer and six RBIs in 13 minor league games.

He hit. 167 (4 for 25) with two doubles and two RBIs in five games with Scranton, leaving his overall minor league stats this year at .221 with one homer and eight RBIs in 18 games.

Because his optional assignment at Scranton was less than 20 days, he will be credited with major league service during that time period. He remains on track to be eligible for free agency after the 2028 World Series.

Volpe, 25, was New York’s starting shortstop from 2023-25 but struggled at the plate, hitting .222 with 52 homers, 192 RBIs and 70 stolen bases over three seasons. His .212 average last year was 144th among 145 qualifiers, his play hampered after he hurt his hurt his left shoulder on May 3.

Caballero was hurt diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt by Milwaukee's Abner Uribe during the ninth inning of Sunday’s 4-3 loss at the Brewers, even though he was wearing a sliding mitt. He pinch ran in the ninth inning Monday night and was thrown out attempting to steal second for the final out in the Yankees' 3-2 defeat to the Orioles. Plate umpire Nic Lentz called Caballero safe but was reversed in a video review as a Yankees' loss ended with a caught stealing for the first time since Curtis Granderson against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 9, 2011.

Acquired from Tampa Bay last July 31, the 29-year-old Caballero started 39 games at shortstop and is hitting .249 with four homers, 13 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

Boone expects Caballero's time on the IL to be brief, and indicated he will reclaim the starting job at shortstop when he returns.

“Hopefully it's just the 10 days,” Boone said. “Just depends on how he heals up over the next few days. He's got a small fracture in there. Tendons, ligaments all good.”

Caballero tried to convince Boone he would be able to play after a few days off, but the manager didn't accept the argument

“We just didn't want to risk him doing something more to it where it becomes something he had to deal with all summer,” Boone said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

A trainer checks on New York Yankees' José Caballero after he was hit by a pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Yankees' José Caballero, left, is caught by Baltimore Orioles second baseman Blaze Alexander, right, while trying to steal second base during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 11, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)