The Chamber of Deputies is preparing for a day expected to be filled with high political and social tension. The session will debate the rejection of presidential vetoes on universities and pediatric health care, with an uncertain outcome. At the same time, the university community will hold a new Federal March, which will be joined by workers from the Garrahan Hospital.

The Chamber of Deputies of the Nation will hold a special session this Wednesday, September 17, starting at 1:00 p.m., to discuss - among other issues - President Javier Milei's veto of the university financing and pediatric health emergency laws, in a day that is expected to be of high political and social tension.

Both initiatives had been approved by a large majority in both chambers of Congress, but were nullified following presidential vetoes, which argued that these laws created a fiscal imbalance. The national government maintains that the current budget, while not ideal, is sufficient, and that the vetoed laws would generate uncontrollable spending and distort public accounts.

Faced with this stance, the opposition political spectrum, as well as the National Interuniversity Council (CIN), student federations, and Garrahan employees, reacted vehemently. They maintain that the veto represents a direct attack on healthcare and free, quality public education.

In the case of universities, the vetoed law established a budget increase based on accumulated inflation for 2023 and 2024, with bimonthly inflation updates, and ordered the Executive Branch to adjust teachers' salaries based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The other vetoed initiative, meanwhile, established additional funding for the Garrahan Hospital and salary increases for its workers through the Pediatric Emergency Law.

What can happen in the session

Despite the recent precedent of the rejection of the presidential veto on the disability emergency, this Wednesday's session in the House of Representatives faces an uncertain outcome. For vetoes to be rejected, a two-thirds majority of the votes of the legislators present is required.

The opposition blocs are confident of overturning the veto on the Garrahan law, since the pediatric emergency was approved in the Chamber of Deputies with 159 votes in favor against 67 against and 4 abstentions, thus reaching two-thirds.

Furthermore, they believe that this number will grow because they estimate that the 4 who abstained could modify their vote and lean in favor of the law, such as Chubut residents Ana Clara Romero and Jorge Ávila, who answer to Governor Ignacio Torres, MID members Oscar Zago and Eduardo Falcone, and former Libertarian Marcela Pagano.

However, the law to provide more resources to universities was approved with 158 votes in favor, 75 against, and 5 abstentions, falling one vote short of two-thirds.

Therefore, the opposition is waiting to see what position the five who abstained will take, and they are also awaiting the position of the five legislators from Coherencia, the new group formed by former libertarians.

Meanwhile, the Radicals closest to the government, such as Mendoza natives Lisandro Nieri, Pamela Verasay, and Chaco native Gerardo Cipolini, as well as Misiones native Martín Arjol, from the Liga del Interior, were also absent, so we'll have to wait and see what stance they'll take on Wednesday.

Questions to Karina Milei and Lugones, also on the agenda

In addition to Milei's vetoes of the Pediatric Emergency and University Financing laws, the call for this session in the House of Representatives includes among the topics to be discussed a request for reports from the Secretary General of the Presidency, Karina Milei, and the Minister of Health, Mario Lugones, to respond to the audio recordings disseminated in various media outlets that link them to alleged bribery charges within the ANDIS.

To advance the interpellations, a two-thirds majority is also required, as these initiatives were not discussed in the Constitutional Affairs Committee.

The agenda for the session also includes these other initiatives that are uncomfortable for Javier Milei's government:

• The consideration of a bill under review that"amends Law 26.122 on the Legal Regime of Decrees of Necessity and Urgency, Legislative Delegation, and Partial Promulgation of Laws."
• The creation within the Chamber of Deputies of a "Special Investigative Commission on the facts related to the marketing and/or use in the healthcare system of contaminated fentanyl and its consequences."
• The creation, within the Commission on Social Action and Public Health of the Lower House, of an"Investigative Commission to determine the responsibilities of ANMAT in the sale of contaminated fentanyl."
• The creation of a Special Bicameral Fentanyl Investigative Commission, in the case of the contaminated medication that has so far caused 96 deaths in different parts of the country.
• Bills that introduce modifications to the National Agency for Disability (ANDIS), and a National Program for the Prevention of Unintended Pregnancy in Adolescence, among other initiatives.
• The deputies also want to repeal Decree 62/2025, which limited the gender identity law because it prevents surgeries on trans minors; Decree 61/25 on the statute of the Federal Police; and Delegated Decrees 445/25, on the transformation of the National Agency of Controlled Materials into the Weapons Registry; and Decrees 396/25 on the transformation of the INA.

At the same time, another Federal March

In parallel with this Wednesday's session in the Chamber of Deputies, a new Federal University March will be held across the country, centered on Congress, to express rejection of the president's decision and demand greater investment in public education.

The main demonstration is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. in the Congress area, although various organizations will gather from other locations to march toward the main event. The main event will begin at 6:00 p.m., with various speakers, all under the slogan"Our future cannot be vetoed."

In this regard, the rectors of higher education institutions agree that not only the normal functioning of universities is at risk, but also the salaries of teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as the scholarships that support thousands of low-income students.

Garrahan Hospital workers will join this Wednesday's protest, as they are closely following the legislative debate on the pediatric emergency.

Support from political organizations

Regarding political organizations, the Right to the Future Movement, led by Axel Kicillof, called for the event from the headquarters of the Mothers of Plaza de Mayo, although the presence of the governor of Buenos Aires has not yet been confirmed.

In turn, La Cámpora reaffirmed its participation in Fuerza Patria, while it remains to be seen whether there will be a call to San Juan 1111, the residence where Cristina Kirchner is serving her house arrest.

Meanwhile, Sergio Massa's Renewal Front, which had already supported the march last October, once again joined the call, while the Radical Civic Union, which is at odds with the executive branch on this issue, launched its own call to join the march.

The marches in the interior of the country

The federal university march will also be replicated in various cities across the country, with events organized by higher education institutions and universities.

In Misiones, UNAM has called for marches in the province's three main cities, with gatherings scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in all cases. In Posadas, the meeting point will be the Flagpole, from which protesters will march to Plaza 9 de Julio. In Oberá, the rally will be at the Regional Campus, from where they will proceed to the Civic Center. And in Eldorado, the march will take place from Plaza El Colono, at kilometer 6, to Plaza Sarmiento, at kilometer 9.

In Córdoba, the mobilization is being organized by the National University of Córdoba (UNC) and will bring together the university community and various social sectors. The rally will begin on the university campus and continue toward the city center.

In Rosario, the rally is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. in Plaza San Martín, where students, faculty, staff, and authorities from the National University of Rosario (UNR) will gather. From there, the column will march to Puerto Joven, the location selected for the main event at 5:30 p.m.

In Mendoza, the mobilization is being promoted by the National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo) and is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m.