‘State parasites’: Brazilian students suffer from Milei’s ‘chainsaw’

Furthermore, the rise in the cost of living, particularly the increase in rental prices, has represented an additional difficulty. In recent years, despite galloping Argentine inflation, the real has appreciated strongly against the Argentine peso, which has kept the country attractive to many Brazilians. However, in recent months the local currency has stabilized, making expenses more expensive in reais.

“I saw many colleagues returning to Brazil, even though they were doing well at university, because they were unable to afford life here in Argentina”, says Dhéo Carvalho, a Brazilian student in his fifth period at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA). In his view, “certainly” applying charges to foreigners would further reduce the flow of Brazilians studying in Argentina.

“In addition to Brazilians, I am a colleague of people from Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia and other nationalities in the region. They all show concern if this policy is implemented”, he states.

Day-to-day life at universities has already been affected by the uncertainty surrounding funding. “In the last month alone I had three exams that had to change dates due to strike. I had three classes canceled and two outdoors”, a common form of protest in Argentina, says Carvalho.

“State Parasites”

Many students from other countries report that negative comments about their attendance at universities, and those blaming them for the country’s economic problems, have increased in recent times. “It’s not difficult to hear that we are parasites of the State or that we are taking advantage of the country’s conditions”, says Carvalho.