Protesters at Plaza Italia on the fifth straight day of street violence in Santiago, Chile | AFP
Chile President Sebastian Pinera announced an ambitious package of social measures with the aim of bringing an end to the violent protests against his government since last week.
The death toll in the protests that raged across the capital city of Santiago and nearby regions rose to 15. The violence was initially over the hike in metro fares. Citizens went on a violent rampage as they torched metro trains and destroyed public property. However, public outcry grew as they soon directed their anger toward the 69-year-old leader over social economic issues the South American country faced.
Pinera asked for forgiveness for successive governments on both left and right that failed to act sooner to stem deep inequalities in Chile. He said he hoped to turn the protests into an “opportunity” for Chile, to “make up for lost time, pick up the pace and take concrete and urgent steps” to resolve the issues.
“It is true that problems accumulated for many decades and that different governments were not able to recognise this situation in all its magnitude. I recognise and apologise for this lack of vision,” he said in an address at La Moneda presidential palace.
Pinera has guaranteed a minimum wage of USD 480 a month, a 20 per cent hike in the universal basic pension and tariffs on electricity costs. He also proposed a law that would see the state cover the costs of expensive medical treatment, and a new tax bracket of 40 per cent for those earning more than USD 11,000 a month.
The Chilean president announced the new social reforms package after a crisis meeting with coalition and opposition lawmakers on Tuesday after guaranteeing the safety of the protesters, safeguarding human rights, and removal of the military from the streets.
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