Protesters wave a Chilean flag during the eighth day of protests against President Sebastian Pinera's government on October 25, 2019 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo: Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images)
Over 1 Million Chileans Take to the Streets to Demand Political Reforms, Change to Country's Neoliberal Economic System
"Chile is not the same as it was yesterday."
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Saturday said he would reshuffle his cabinet after over 1 million Chileans poured into city streets across the country Friday to demand structural reforms to the country's government and economic system.
The move by Pinera came as the protest movement mobilized people in the captial Santiago and beyond.
"We're asking for justice, honesty, ethical government," protester Francisco Anguitar told AFP Friday.
Pinera made the announcement late Saturday morning.
The timeline and plan for the replacement of ministers remains unclear. On Saturday, Reuters reported that a document obtained by the news agency "suggested Pinera was considering replacing the heads of at least nine ministries, including the ministries of interior, defense, economy, transportation and environment."
Chilean senator Felipe Kast on Twitter credited the Friday protests with prompting Pinera's decision.
"A peaceful day that will leave its mark on our history," said Kast. "Chile is not the same as it was yesterday."
The protests kicked off on October 15 after high school students occupied subway stations in Santiago to protest fare hikes. The movement exploded from there as demonstrations quickly became about the country's neoliberal economic system and Pinera's government.
Pinera, in response to the protests, authorized a brutal crackdown on protesters by military and police forces. Video from the protests shared on social media showed police and soldiers attacking unarmed demonstrators.
Support for the protest movement poured in from across the world.
"The people of Chile have all my love and support," tweeted writer Naomi Klein. "Their courage is awe-inspiring."
Journalist Ben Norton called the protests a "massive rejection of neoliberalism" and linked to photos from the protests.
The demonstrators "represent the dream of a new Chile," tweeted Santiago Governor Karla Rubilar.
"Our country requires more dialogue and peaceful marches!" said Rubilar.
Urgent. It's never been this bad.
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission from the outset was simple. To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It’s never been this bad out there. And it’s never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed and doing some of its best and most important work, the threats we face are intensifying. Right now, with just hours left in our Spring Campaign, we're still falling short of our make-or-break goal. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Can you make a gift right now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? There is no backup plan or rainy day fund. There is only you. —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Saturday said he would reshuffle his cabinet after over 1 million Chileans poured into city streets across the country Friday to demand structural reforms to the country's government and economic system.
The move by Pinera came as the protest movement mobilized people in the captial Santiago and beyond.
"We're asking for justice, honesty, ethical government," protester Francisco Anguitar told AFP Friday.
Pinera made the announcement late Saturday morning.
The timeline and plan for the replacement of ministers remains unclear. On Saturday, Reuters reported that a document obtained by the news agency "suggested Pinera was considering replacing the heads of at least nine ministries, including the ministries of interior, defense, economy, transportation and environment."
Chilean senator Felipe Kast on Twitter credited the Friday protests with prompting Pinera's decision.
"A peaceful day that will leave its mark on our history," said Kast. "Chile is not the same as it was yesterday."
The protests kicked off on October 15 after high school students occupied subway stations in Santiago to protest fare hikes. The movement exploded from there as demonstrations quickly became about the country's neoliberal economic system and Pinera's government.
Pinera, in response to the protests, authorized a brutal crackdown on protesters by military and police forces. Video from the protests shared on social media showed police and soldiers attacking unarmed demonstrators.
Support for the protest movement poured in from across the world.
"The people of Chile have all my love and support," tweeted writer Naomi Klein. "Their courage is awe-inspiring."
Journalist Ben Norton called the protests a "massive rejection of neoliberalism" and linked to photos from the protests.
The demonstrators "represent the dream of a new Chile," tweeted Santiago Governor Karla Rubilar.
"Our country requires more dialogue and peaceful marches!" said Rubilar.
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Saturday said he would reshuffle his cabinet after over 1 million Chileans poured into city streets across the country Friday to demand structural reforms to the country's government and economic system.
The move by Pinera came as the protest movement mobilized people in the captial Santiago and beyond.
"We're asking for justice, honesty, ethical government," protester Francisco Anguitar told AFP Friday.
Pinera made the announcement late Saturday morning.
The timeline and plan for the replacement of ministers remains unclear. On Saturday, Reuters reported that a document obtained by the news agency "suggested Pinera was considering replacing the heads of at least nine ministries, including the ministries of interior, defense, economy, transportation and environment."
Chilean senator Felipe Kast on Twitter credited the Friday protests with prompting Pinera's decision.
"A peaceful day that will leave its mark on our history," said Kast. "Chile is not the same as it was yesterday."
The protests kicked off on October 15 after high school students occupied subway stations in Santiago to protest fare hikes. The movement exploded from there as demonstrations quickly became about the country's neoliberal economic system and Pinera's government.
Pinera, in response to the protests, authorized a brutal crackdown on protesters by military and police forces. Video from the protests shared on social media showed police and soldiers attacking unarmed demonstrators.
Support for the protest movement poured in from across the world.
"The people of Chile have all my love and support," tweeted writer Naomi Klein. "Their courage is awe-inspiring."
Journalist Ben Norton called the protests a "massive rejection of neoliberalism" and linked to photos from the protests.
The demonstrators "represent the dream of a new Chile," tweeted Santiago Governor Karla Rubilar.
"Our country requires more dialogue and peaceful marches!" said Rubilar.