Amid deadly protests, Chilean president promises reforms

(Image credit: Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)

published 23 October 2019

After more than a week of violent protests over economic inequality, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera announced reforms on Tuesday that he hopes will quell the demonstrators' anger.

Piñera said the basic pension will go up by 20 percent, the minimum wage will rise, electricity rates will go down, and the government will introduce a new higher tax bracket and cover the cost of expensive medical treatments, BBC News reports.

The protests began in the capital, Santiago, with people angry over an increase in subway ticket prices. The demonstrations soon swept across the country, and thousands took to the streets to speak out against inequality, low wages, and the high cost of living. The protests have left at least 15 people dead, and more than 5,000 have been arrested. Because of looting and arson, 10 cities are under a nightly curfew.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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