Chile Protests: Why are the Protests Happening and What is the Current Situation?
Protests in Santiago against proposed spending cuts that began on October 1 reached their 18th day on October 18, with student demonstrations and a march by thousands, marking seven years since Chile’s 2019 social uprising.
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In a Nutshell
- Thousands gathered at Santiago’s Plaza Italia on October 18 to commemorate the 2019 uprising and protest President José Antonio Kast’s proposed spending cuts.
- The gathering ended in clashes between some demonstrators and police. AP described the demonstration as unauthorised and reported a police crackdown; photographs also documented confrontations.
- Earlier, on October 1, student organisations held demonstrations in Santiago against planned cuts to the education budget. Police used tear gas and water cannons, while some protesters threw rocks and returned gas canisters towards police lines.
- The October demonstrations combine opposition to current spending proposals with grievances associated with the 2019 movement, particularly those related to inequality and access to public services. They are related expressions of discontent, not evidence of a single continuous protest.
- According to reports by Cooperativa and El Mostrador, as of October 20, 110 people were detained nationwide, including 99 in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Along with that, there is confirmation of 14 police officers and 4 civilians being injured.
Context
Chile’s 2019 social uprising began with opposition to a Santiago Metro fare increase and expanded into a nationwide movement against inequality and the cost of essential services. Students helped initiate the mobilisation, which grew to include much wider sections of society. The government reversed the fare increase and announced concessions on wages, pensions and electricity prices, but demonstrations continued.
The current October protests specifically focus on proposed government spending cuts, including cuts to education. Student organisations took to Santiago’s streets on October 1, when confrontations with police brought tear gas, water cannons and stone-throwing. On October 18, the seventh anniversary of the uprising provided another rallying point. Thousands returned to Plaza Italia, linking remembrance of the earlier movement with opposition to Kast’s spending plans. The gathering again resulted in clashes with police. Reports confirm separate demonstrations during October, rather than a single protest entering its twentieth day. The current picture is one of renewed mobilisation over public spending and inequality, with the October 18 march the latest major event verified.