Argentina House in Paris accused of restricting students

Students and campus figures have accused Argentina House in Paris of restricting residents' freedoms, while Paris city officials have asked France's foreign ministry to investigate the Argentina-run university residence.

The residence is part of the Cite Universitaire, an international campus in the French capital created to house students and promote contact between young people from different countries. Critics say conditions changed after Santiago Muzio, described by AFP as a lawyer appointed under President Javier Milei's government, became director in 2024.

Former residents told AFP that access to common areas, including a lounge and outdoor barbecue area, had been restricted. Some said they feared being overheard and avoided subjects such as LGBTQ rights and people forcibly disappeared during Argentina's 1976-83 military rule. One former resident called the residence a "mini-dictatorship".

Paris city hall requested an investigation by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot's team in a July 30 letter seen by AFP. Barrot said on Tuesday that France was in talks with Argentine authorities and their representatives in Paris.

Blandine Sorbe, of the foundation that manages the Cite Universitaire, told AFP she was working to have the management of Argentina House raised at a diplomatic level before Milei's expected Paris visit in late September.

AFP said neither Argentina House nor Argentina's human capital ministry, which has authority over the site, responded to repeated requests for comment.

Reports have also linked the residence to meetings involving European far-right figures. Left-wing outlet Basta! reported that think tanks linked to the far right in Poland and Hungary presented a plan there in November to dismantle much of the European Union. AFP said the residence hosted a May meeting opposing euthanasia in Europe.

The Cite Universitaire's charter of values includes respect for human rights and privacy and bans discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. Laurent Schneider, identified as a representative for the house director, said Muzio had refused to sign the charter because he could not, "in good conscience," sign a document recognising gender equality and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation.

A person familiar with the residence told AFP that posters supporting LGBTQ rights had been removed. Campus sources also said Argentina House removed a plaque in February honouring "the 30,000 disappeared and victims of state terrorism (1974–1983)", saying it was for construction work. Milei's government says the figure is much lower.

Students held a commemoration in Germany House after the plaque was removed, and campus authorities installed a similar plaque across the street. Salvador Calanni, an academic researcher who had lived at Argentina House, told AFP that 13 students seen as opposing the plaque's removal were not allowed to stay in the dorms during the summer holidays. Sorbe said about 10 of them were rehoused for July and August.

Calanni said he was later among 42 people rejected by Argentina House for the new academic year in what he described as an opaque admissions process.