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October 23, 2019

Chilean President Announces Reforms Aimed to Curb Massive Protests
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Chilean President Sebastián Piñera has announced new reforms aimed at
ending weeks of nationwide protests in response to a subway fare hike,
rising inequality, high cost of living and privatization. Piñera vowed
Tuesday to increase the basic pension by 20% and proposed a healthcare
law that would mandate the state cover the costs of expensive medical
treatments. It's unclear whether the reforms will halt the massive
demonstrations. At least 15 people have died and more than 5,000 have
been detained since the protests began. Piñera has declared a state of
emergency in the capital of Santiago and five other cities, imposing a
curfew and sending the military into the streets in response to civil
unrest for the first time since dictator Augusto Pinochet's regime.


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