Over 1 Million People Take to the Streets in Chile to Protest Billionaire President
Eoin Higgins, Common Dreams
Waking Times
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera 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 Piñera came as the protest movement mobilized people in the capital Santiago and beyond.
“We’re asking for justice, honesty, ethical government,” protester Francisco Anguitar told AFP Friday.
Piñera made the announcement late Saturday morning.
BREAKING: Chile's President
Piñera has asked his ministers to resign, in the most dramatic move since protests began a week ago. The military also announced an end to the curfew. Yesterday's protest, by more than 1 million Chileans, is forcing change.pic.twitter.com/gZMtMarDnp— David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) October 26, 2019
The timeline and plan for the replacement of ministers remains unclear.
On Saturday, Reuters reported that a document obtained by the news agency “suggested Piñera 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 Piñera’s decision.
“A peaceful day that will leave its mark on our history,” said Kast. “Chile is not the same as it was yesterday.”
Una jornada pacífica que marcará la historia. Chile no es el mismo que era ayer. No lo cambió la política. Es la política la que debe cambiar. #LaMarchaMasGrandeDeChileً pic.twitter.com/znWDRXuI6x
— Felipe (@felipekast) October 25, 2019
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 Piñera’s government.
Piñera, 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.
La vibrante democracia chilena de @sebastianpinera queda en evidencia en este video que demuestra cómo actúa @Carabdechile con el pueblo de a pie. Toda una oda a los DDHH y a las buenas prácticas policiales con las que pretenden dar lecciones a #Venezuela. Cortesía al autor. pic.twitter.com/Qwu9rbUyd6
— Érika Ortega Sanoja (@ErikaOSanoja) October 25, 2019
Police aim a shotgun during clashes with anti-government protesters in Valparaíso, #Chile, Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. (@AP Photo/Matías Delacroix) pic.twitter.com/jHdeEeLKEl
— Latino Rebels (@latinorebels) October 26, 2019
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.
In Chile, more than 1 MILLION people took to the streets yesterday to protest the brutal neoliberal capitalist policies of rightwing billionaire oligarch President Piñera
Many people are calling it the largest protest in Chile's history
It's a massive rejection of neoliberalism pic.twitter.com/Kom12Efwo8
— Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) October 26, 2019
The demonstrators “represent the dream of a new Chile,” tweeted Santiago Governor Karla Rubilar.
“Our country requires more dialogue and peaceful marches!” said Rubilar.
By Eoin Higgins | CommonDreams.org | Creative Commons