Folk mood and violence marked the one-year anniversary of the social revolt in the South American country. In central Santiago, tens of thousands of protesters gathered to demand the resignation of President Sebastián Piñera.
– The people want the president to resign, we want his head, says 40-year-old clerk Cristina.
It was October 18th last year as Chile exploded in a revolt that took everyone to bed. The spark was the increase in the price of tickets for the subway, but quickly developed into a questioning of the entire political and economic system.
In addition to the resignation of the government, Chileans demanded better pensions and salaries and better and cheaper community service. The Corona pandemic stopped the wave of protests in March this year, but yesterday the protest slogans resounded on the streets of Santiago and other cities.
According to police, 25,000 people took part in the demonstration in central Santiago. The participants believe that there were at least ten times more. The mood of the folk festival was disturbed by the violent actions of smaller groups. Two churches were set on fire and in connection with one of the fires, a member of the Chilean navy was arrested, which raises the protesters’ suspicions that the perpetrators are actually infiltrators, recommended by the government.
There were none last night figures on the number of arrested or injured. On Sunday, Chile will hold a referendum. The Chileans will then decide whether the country will get a new constitution, which will replace the one left by dictator Augusto Pinochet.
– All forecasts show that the yes side will win by far. But those who have benefited from the extreme market economy that has ruled Chile for 45 years do not want a new constitution. The one we have today has given us stability, says a man who does not want to give his name.
Source: ICELAND NEWS