Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera announced a package of social measures on Tuesday, following five days of violent protests that have left at least 15 people dead.
In a speech at the presidential palace in Santiago, president Pinera said he would increase the universal basic pension by 20%, freeze tariffs on electricity and proposed a law that would see the state cover the costs of expensive medical treatment.
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“Faced with the legitimate needs and social demands of the citizenship, we have received with humility and clarity the message Chileans have given us,” Pinera said.
Following his speech, the president took to Twitter to post the new social agenda saying that he has heard the voices of the Chilean people “loud and clear.”
Hemos escuchado fuerte y clara la voz de la gente expresando pacíficamente sus problemas, sus dolores, sus sueños y sus esperanzas de una vida mejor. Hoy quiero compartir con todos mis compatriotas las principales medidas y componentes q impulsaremos con esta #NuevaAgendaSocial pic.twitter.com/gSb88mMrvG
— Sebastian Piñera (@sebastianpinera) October 23, 2019
Are the reforms enough?
The president’s proposal comes ahead of a general strike planned for Wednesday. The Copper Workers Federation (FTC) announced it would participate in the strike along with teachers and public sector employees.
On Tuesday, workers at the Escondida mine, the largest copper deposit in the world, partially paralyzed work in support of the demonstrations.
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The protests were sparked when the Chilean government announced it was going to increase the fares on the Santiago metro.
The fare-hike has since been cancelled, but not before 15 people died and over 1,900 people were arrested in the student-led protests, according to UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet.
This article was originally published in DW. You can read it here.