Chile protests, from caroprezzi to corruption to low wages: this is why the country has become the new hot front in South America

Fires, clashes, state of emergency, curfew: it is a situation that in Chile we had not lived for decades, which brings us back to the times of the dictatorship of Pinochet. And yet, that which its president had defined as just over a couple of days ago "An oasis of peace" in the turbulent South America he strongly showed his depth discontent for the deep social inequalities. Protests have long taken place due to the exaggerated costs of the drugs and the health insurance, the increase in bills of light and a educational system from the prohibitive costs that forces thousands of families to borrow. Thus the increase in the tariffs of the public transport to Santiago, which mainly affects students and sparked protests this weekend, was just the fuse of a time bomb that has been mounting for some time.

Chile, together with Honduras, Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, is Panama, is among the five most unequal countries in the world, after those in Africa, according to the World Bank. The latest data from the Chilean Ministry of Social Development, referring to 2017, say that the richest 10 percent of society earns 39.1 times more than 10 percent poorer. In 2015, the figure stopped at 33.9. A situation born of the neoliberal approach given by Augusto Pinochet during the dictatorship, with the privatization of almost all essential services, but which has not been substantially changed in the almost 30 years of government led for the most part by the center-left. In recent years, with the two governments of Michelle Bachelet there have been adjustments, even under the pressure of student square protests which, however, have not affected the general approach. Just think of the minimum salary is around 300 thousand Chilean pesos, that is, on 400 euros monthly, and the cost of transport by metro to Santiago, with the latter increase of 30 pesos (reaching 1.05 euros) of the ticket, rises to around 33,000, or 44 euros a month. In a city like the capital, where the costs for rent and food are comparable to those in Europe and education is expensive (if you can avoid going to public schools where there are 45-50 students per class), you will understand how this The last increase was the drop that caused the vase to overflow.

Then there are the so-called social discontent Administrations of pension funds (AFP) who accumulate million-dollar earnings each year. Only in 2018 the government of Sebastian Pinera has sent to the Parliament the reform of the system to establish a 4% contribution by the employer, for years excluded from the system. Furthermore, at the beginning of October, the executive increased its electricity prices by 10.5%, while it was not possible to lower the price of drugs. Then there is the private health system, whose rates are increased every year, covering only 60% of the benefits, leaving out the elderly, and is three times more expensive for women. There have also been no serious cases of corruption, in a company that until a few years ago boasted of its transparency, between the Army and the Carabinieri accused of embezzlement for 40 million dollars since 2006, even in the highest offices.

That's why the reverse on the increase in tariffs, announced by President Pinera on Saturday (which by the way Friday, in the midst of the clashes, was photographed for lunch eating a pizza with all his family in one of the most exclusive neighborhoods of the city) , did not have the desired effect. Protests and clashes have spread to other important cities in the country, such as Valparaiso, Concepcion is Iquique, leading to opt for a curfew from 10 pm to 7 am (the last time it was declared to Santiago by Pinochet, in 1987, and in 2010 in Concepcion after the earthquake and tsunami). The balance sheet of this weekend sees so far three dead in a fire in a supermarket, 470 people arrested, more than a hundred injured civilians and carabinieri, 41 metro stations destroyed or vandalized. Domenica Pinera will meet with the different powers of the State and this week will listen to proposals from various sectors of society to reduce the cost of living and increase security. But the real problem will be finding a connection with the Chileans, who for too long have felt excluded and misunderstood.

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