Description: Teachers, students and other social activists clashed with riot police in Chile’s capital, Santiago, over President Jose Antonio Kast’s austerity budget measures. Chile’s ultraconservative President has vowed to cut approximately $6 billion in public spending over the next 18 months in order to improve Chile’s fiscal standing. Kast initiated at least 3% budget cuts across all ministries which drew sharp criticism from his political opponents and some members of his political camp. The Confederation of Chilean Students supported by the Teachers Union organized the peaceful march which spiraled towards violent confrontations as the police was forced to use water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesters. The activists also oppose the National Reconstruction bill which is a package of measures that undertakes further reduction in state spending and is aimed at incentivizing foreign investment in the country.
Impact: The blanket of radical reforms proposed by Chile’s ultraconservative President would likely further be publicly and politically scrutinized until some form of measured implementation of reforms is brought forward. Sweeping budget cuts and unilateral focus on foreign investments could likely cause prolonged demonstrations that would contest Kast’s presidency after just three months in office. Chile’s embattled economy and continuous cost of living crisis combined with the political transformation the country currently experiences under Kast’s presidency could lead towards continued civic unrest in the immediate – term. Kast’s administration could also opt for measured budget cuts and avoid radical reformation of the economic system that could likely be more susceptible for the social activists in the country.