Last Wednesday, Argentine President Javier Milei sent an emergency bill to the National Congress that aims to reform areas of the economy, politics and society.

The so-called law of “bases and principles for the freedom of Argentines” comes a week after the controversial Decree of Necessity and Urgency (DNU) approved by the ultra-liberal president and which will come into effect next Friday.

If the project is approved, Congressional lawmakers will allow the executive branch to declare a public emergency on economic, financial, fiscal, social, pension, security, defense, tariff, energy, health and social area until at least December 31, 2025. The state of emergency can be extended for another two years, covering the entire mandate of Milei.

The new law from Javier Milei’s government proposes to charge foreign students at public universities

In total, the government is proposing a law that will reform, delete or add 664 articles of law.

One of the articles that has sparked controversy concerns the collection of tuition fees for non-resident foreign students who wish to study in Argentina at public universities.

The reactions were immediate and Colombian President Gustavo Petro indicated that they will receive 20,000 Colombian students who have received free education in that country.

“They are literally being driven out of that country, for them there was no so-called ‘freedom’. We will ensure that they can continue their studies in Colombia without major obstacles and free of charge,” said the president. (JO)