Is This the Year of Structural Change in Chile?
The Left is racking up victory after victory in Chile. Now, Chileans have the chance to clear away the last remnants of Pinochet's authoritarian, neoliberal rule by writing a new, democratic constitution.
Communist Party candidate Irací Hassler speaks through a megaphone on May 17 in Santiago, Chile during the celebration of her triumph as mayor of of the city.(Felipe Figueroa / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)
The social uprising that exploded in October 2019 has changed the course of Chilean politics.
After high school students launched a massive fare evasion protest against the rise in subway prices that month, latent frustrations and accumulated injustices prompted millions of chilenos to mobilize against social inequality and unresponsive government. People demonstrated, banged pots, and marched to demand structural change in this highly unequal country. Smaller groups burned barricades in the streets, fought police, and filled walls with graffiti.
The social uprising ultimately triggered a process to change the 1980 constitution of dictator Augusto Pinochet. That process, which began in 2020, has produced historic defeats for the Right, as the Left, center-left, and independents have won major victories nationwide, including in races for governor last Sunday.
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