Petitions, civil associations, and patriotic rallies to remedy the chainsaw problem in history institutes

It cannot be said that the dissolution of the historical research institutes , decided by Executive Decree 346/2025 at the request of the Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Federico Sturzenegger , is being an easy task. For now, at the end of the month, María Inés Rodríguez Aguilar, a professional fully trusted by Undersecretary Liliana Barela , will leave her position as Director of Heritage . Both are distinguished heritage researchers and highly recognized in the field.

First, the opposition to the measure came from at least unexpected voices, such as that of the Vice President of the Nation, Victoria Villarruel, who joined the event in which the complaints of the Belgrano Institute were voiced. Yesterday, there was a chocolate and churros event attended by picket leader Juan Grabois, among other Kirchnerist militants at the Juan Domingo Perón National Institute, who addressed those present. The National Theater Institute (INT) also held a symbolic embrace of the institution this weekend and is collecting signatures to reverse a situation whose fate is already sealed.

Meanwhile, Rodríguez Aguilar will take over as director of the Manzana de las Luces, and among the names in the running to replace her, though no confirmation has been given, is María Paula Zingoni, current director of the Palais de Glace, the national government's eternally unfinished project. While she awaits the opening of the venue (no date yet), she is organizing activities at the Borges Cultural Center.

President Javier Milei's decisions in the cultural sphere are relentless . He began with a comprehensive decree that would have destroyed highways by 2024, then reversed course; but little by little, the government is eliminating areas that involve important figures in the country's history and identity.

This Tuesday, a ceremony honoring Manuel Belgrano's birthday took place at the Santo Domingo Convent, located on Belgrano and Defensa Avenues. Titled "Born to Serve Our Nation," a simple invitation to the austere event took place.

An essential point: both the president of this national organization—one of those dissolved by the chainsaw—and its full members work ad honorem (an oxymoron, because all work must be remunerated).

Academician Juan Carlos Albanese praised Belgrano's honor and magnanimity, "who, despite the political intrigues, the scarcity of resources, and the harsh terrain, never made excuses and never sought privileges. Manuel Belgrano felt committed to serving his country. He chose duty over comfort, did not covet power, and left a legacy of dignity," he said, defying the cold of the autumn morning and the silence of those present.

After emphasizing that what matters in serving the nation is "the spirit with which it is done," the academic emphasized: "We want Argentina to be worthy of its founding fathers and for Belgrano to be a moral compass that justifies our efforts."

Immediately, the great-grandson of the hero, also called Manuel Belgrano –who presided over the dissolved institute– reviewed the history of the emergence of the national organization, which was founded at the request of the Argentine Patrician Ladies Remedios Escalada de San Martín, in 1944, and nationalized in 1992, precisely during the government of Carlos Saúl Menem , admired by President Javier Milei.

Referring to the decree dissolving the institute, Belgrano said: "The reason is budgetary, but I believe that the earnings of a single advisor to the Executive Branch cover our Institute's entire year's expenses . Our expenses are minimal because we are headquartered in the Honorable Regimiento de Patricios and we only have three self-employed employees. I don't want to say what they earn because it would embarrass them," he said ruefully. He also remembered the Newberian, Brownian, and Yrigoyenian institutes, which were also dissolved.

For now, there is a debate about whether two of these organizations will become NGOs again or move to the Ministry of Defense , since both Jorge Newbery and Guillermo Brown are considered, according to our sources, "defense heroes."

The Belgrano Institute will live on . It wasn't all a bitter birthday for the most revered hero in Argentine schools. The patriot's great-grandson announced that in an assembly, all his faculty members decided to continue the Belgrano National Institute, which has been transformed into a Civil Association. "We will not abandon the legacy of the Lady Patricias," he emphasized. Manuel Belgrano concluded with a moving exhortation: "Belgranians! Let us live with glory or swear to die with glory."

The Belgrano Institute isn't the only one that has begun collecting signatures of support . The National Monuments Commission is also involved, although its president, Mónica Capano, hasn't made any progress on concrete actions.

Meanwhile, yesterday at the Juan Domingo Perón National Institute , located on Austria Street between Las Heras Avenue and Pagano Passage, the restaurant Un Café con Perón decided to offer its guests the traditional hot chocolate and churros as a farewell . The café was packed, and there were lines out onto the street. Of course, it was free. Many even took a photo with the plaster Perón sitting at one of the tables there.

This Institute has been placed under the purview of the Ministry of Human Capital, headed by Sandra Pettovello, and Café con Perón, whose concession was obtained by the Lo de Néstor cooperative during Tristán Bauer's administration at the Ministry of Culture (from 2019 to 2023) and was due to expire in 2027, will have to close. According to official sources, the fee paid by the cooperative was 117,000 pesos per month , and 68% of that total went back to the Ministry of Culture.

Despite the calls for resistance issued by the space's concessionaire, Leonardo Duva, who does not belong to the National Library and is part of a union cooperative close to President Alberto Fernández and social leader Juan Grabois , the eviction from the building is already scheduled. The Café will have to close next weekend. The Institute and its respective gastronomic space are located in the former Unzué Palace where Perón and Eva Duarte lived. The gastronomic space is connected to the Perón Institute, but they are independent.

The National Theatre Institute (INT) also held a symbolic embrace this weekend and is collecting signatures to reverse a situation whose fate is already sealed.

It's worth remembering that, both in the creation of national universities and in the founding of historical institutes, Kirchnerism abused its power during its last two administrations (those of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and Alberto Fernández).

It's enough to recall the embarrassment of the Manuel Dorrego National Institute for Argentine and Ibero-American Historical Revisionism , harshly criticized by renowned historians such as Luis Alberto Romero, Hilda Sabato, and Juan Suriano. It ended up consumed by its own power struggle. It was subsidized by the National Treasury.

On this subject, the unforgettable Beatriz Sarlo said: "Revisionism is a kind of fossil that lives in the paradise of bestsellers." A decree by then-President Mauricio Macri dissolved it.

When official sources consulted about what is new to replace the closing institutions and how many people are being laid off, Clarín learned that the new and reunited "National Institute of Historical Research" is in the process of being set up. It will operate in the offices of the former Juan Manuel de Rosas National Institute, at 641 Montevideo Street. Its name has not yet been confirmed.

We also learned that it will have a salaried director and seven staff members (including administrative and research staff). Fourteen people who worked at the dissolved institutes have not had their contracts renewed. And, the unofficial spokespersons added, "All the presidents of the dissolved organizations were invited to join the new honorary institute. Their specific role will be to advise on all matters related to the distinguished individuals" under their jurisdiction.

Footnote: The warm air tempers the cold these days. We'll have to see how they make up for the lack of potable water. Another headache for Undersecretary Barela, who's trying to catch all the issues. The Freezy company suspended its water dispenser service due to nonpayment, which has been ongoing since the time of former Minister of Culture Tristán Bauer, when the supplier stopped paying, and for that reason, it refuses to provide more containers. The debt is 30 million pesos. Filters will have to be purchased.