Chilean activists to begin nation-wide demonstrations marking two-year anniversary of inequality protests

In Chile today, demonstrations marking the two-year anniversary of protests against economic inequality are expected to begin across Santiago and other major cities. The protests are expected to continue throughout the week.

The protests come as the leaked Pandora Papers have revealed President Sebastian Pintura’s corrupt business practices.

The original 2019 protests saw activists demanding reforms on pensions, minimum wage, energy prices and more. Yet, the protests began in response to a $0.04 subway fare hike which highlighted the precarious livelihoods of most minimum wage workers.

Although Chile is considered one of the most stable countries in South America, the income gap is the largest of developed nations and 65% above the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average.

Pintura pledged to raise the minimum pension by 20% and increase the minimum wage to $480 a month, garnering support from his opposition in 2019. However, he now faces impeachment charges for his role in the contentious 2010 sale of the Dominga mine. Given these developments, protests are likely to call for broad systemic change in Chile’s political establishment and an end to kleptocracy. With elections to be held in November, expect continued widespread protests for political overhaul in the medium-term.