Former President Cristina Kirchner launched her campaign to contest the presidency of the Justicialist Party and visited the National University of the Arts (UNA) amid a conflict between the student movement and the national government over the funding of public higher education. Kirchner accepted the invitation from the university authorities to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the enactment of the law that transformed the University Institute of Arts (IUNA) into UNA.
During her visit, the former president spoke with students, faculty, and staff, expressing her concern about the budgetary problems facing UNA and other national universities in the country. After participating in the event, Kirchner shared her thoughts on social media, highlighting the importance of listening to the stories of the student community.
Cristina Kirchner's visit to UNA comes after a protest led by students who performed a dance choreography at the Once train station, as an act of resistance against budget cuts at national universities. This gesture from the students became a symbol of the student struggle.
During her meeting with the university community, Kirchner recalled the creation of UNA during her second term in 2014 and praised the creativity of the students in making criticisms through art. The former president also reflected on the challenges she faced during her administration and the importance of working for the benefit of the people despite the difficulties and criticisms received.
Cristina Kirchner's presence at UNA not only responds to her interest in higher education and culture, but is also framed within the political context of Peronism, where she is involved in an internal dispute with her former Minister of Economy and current Governor of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof. In light of Kicillof's political maneuvering as the new leader of Peronism, Kirchner has decided to run as a candidate for the presidency of the Justicialist Party, challenging other leaders such as the Governor of La Rioja, Ricardo Quintela.
