More than a million people demanded profound social reforms at a rally in Santiago de Chile on Friday. "This is a historic day," said Mayor Karla Rubilar TV channel Chile. People expressed the "anger and outrage" that had accumulated over the years. "Chile has changed today," said Rubilar.
Now all politicians would have to think about how this crisis of confidence came about. According to her, almost 1.2 million people had come to the country's "biggest march".
Chile hoy vive una jornada histórica. La RM it protagonista de una pacífica marcha de cerca de 1 millón de personas que representan el sueño de un Chile nuevo, de forma transversal sin distinción. Más diálogo y marchas pacíficas requiere nuestro país ❤! # ArribaStgo #RMdeTodos pic.twitter.com/RWcLBU67LD
- Karla Rubilar Barahona (@KarllaEnAccion) October 25, 2019The demonstrators also marched past the government building, where they called on President Sebastián Piñera to resign. Also in Valparaíso, Punta Arenas, Viña del Mar and other cities there were protest marches in which thousands of Chileans participated.
Piñera got in the evening via Twitter to speak. "We have all heard the message, we have all changed, and with unity and God's help we will make the way to a better Chile for all." But he did not name specific measures.
La multitudinaria, alegre y pacífica marcha hoy, donde los chilenos piden un chile más justo y solidario, abre grandes caminos de futuro y esperanza.Todos hemos escuchado el mensaje.Todos hemos cambiado.Con unidad y ayuda de Dios, recorreremos el camino a ese Chile mejor para todos
- Sebastian Piñera (@sebastianpinera) October 26, 2019The protests had inflamed a week ago by the increase in prices for subway tickets in Santiago by four euro cents. They quickly spread to the whole country, with demands that went far beyond the originally contested fares. In the process, pent-up anger escaped, among other things, because of low wages and pensions, high prices, high tuition and extreme differences between the poor and the rich.
Video on protests in Chile: Tens of thousands of people defy curfew
REUTERS
In the first few days, the demonstrations exploded in arson attacks and looting. On Wednesday, for example, the meetings of the Chileans became massive protests. The protests did not stop, although Piñera reversed the increase in prices for subway tickets and announced a package of measures a few days later that responded to some of the demonstrators' demands. However, the measures were considered inadequate, according to surveys by Chilean media on Friday.
At least 19 people have already died during the riots. According to the National Institute for Human Rights (INDH), 585 protesters were injured and a further 2,840 people were arrested. The police spoke of 694 injured in their ranks, including 55 seriously injured.