Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

2019 Chilean protests

The 2019 Chilean protests, also termed the estallido social, erupted on 18 October in when students evaded metro hikes through mass turnstile-jumping, igniting clashes that rapidly expanded into nationwide unrest against entrenched , privatized public services, and the post-dictatorship neoliberal framework's perceived shortcomings in delivering broad prosperity despite Chile's status as Latin America's strongest economy. Triggered ostensibly by a 4% increase amid rising living costs, the movement drew millions into leaderless demonstrations that blended peaceful marches with widespread rioting, , of businesses, and destruction of infrastructure including over 70 metro stations. President responded by declaring a on 19 October, deploying the to streets for the first time since and imposing curfews, yet the upheaval persisted for months, causing at least 27 deaths—primarily from protester-set fires, robberies, and confrontations rather than direct state action—along with thousands of injuries from and , over 10,000 arrests, and economic damages exceeding $3 billion USD from vandalized transport and commerce. Police, particularly the , faced accusations of excessive force, including eye injuries from non-lethal munitions, though empirical analyses highlight bidirectional violence with protesters employing barricades, projectiles, and incendiary devices that exacerbated chaos in a context of underlying fiscal pressures from systems and costs not fully addressed by prior reforms. The protests' scale—peaking with over a million participants in alone—exposed fissures in Chile's metrics, where the top 1% captured about 25% of national income amid stagnant , ultimately forcing Piñera's and a November accord for a plebiscite on drafting a new to replace the 1980 Pinochet-era document, though subsequent rejection of proposed texts in 2022 underscored persistent divisions over market-oriented policies' role in versus their contribution to concentrated wealth.

Background and Causes

Economic and Social Grievances

Chile's , established through neoliberal reforms during the Pinochet and largely maintained by subsequent democratic governments, achieved sustained GDP growth averaging 3.7% annually from 2000 to 2019, lifting millions out of poverty and positioning the country as an member with the highest in . However, this growth coexisted with high , as measured by a that declined modestly from approximately 56 in the early 2000s to 46 by 2017, remaining among the highest in the . The top 1% of earners captured about 25% of pre-tax national income, while owning nearly 50% of total wealth, contributing to perceptions of an elite benefiting disproportionately from and market-oriented policies. Social grievances centered on privatized systems in pensions, education, and health, which protesters argued failed to deliver equitable outcomes despite overall economic progress. The Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones (AFP) system, a defined-contribution model introduced in 1981, faced criticism for providing low replacement rates—often below 40% of pre-retirement income—and inadequate benefits, with average pensions insufficient to cover basic living costs for many retirees, exacerbated by high administrative fees and low contribution densities among informal workers. In education, reliance on private providers led to high out-of-pocket costs and unequal access, fueling prior student mobilizations and demands for free, quality public , as tuition burdens contributed to amid stagnant wages. Health care disparities arose from a , where private ISAPRE insurers favored higher-income groups, leaving lower-income individuals in the public FONASA network with longer waits and perceived lower-quality services. Broader frustrations included a that failed to keep pace with and productivity gains, weak labor protections limiting union bargaining power, and rising living costs in urban areas like , where affordability deteriorated due to market-driven development. These issues, while rooted in policy choices favoring efficiency over redistribution, were amplified by a sense of among the middle and working classes, who viewed entrenched privileges—such as elite access to privatized resources—as barriers to upward mobility, despite empirical reductions from over 30% in 2000 to around 8% by 2017. Protesters' calls for "dignity" encapsulated demands for systemic reforms to address these gaps, highlighting a disconnect between macroeconomic successes and micro-level hardships.

Immediate Triggers and Underlying Frustrations

The immediate trigger for the protests was a 4% fare increase on the , raising the price by 30 Chilean pesos (about US$0.04) and taking effect on October 6, 2019, as announced by the Transport Ministry to offset operational costs. High school students initiated campaigns in the week prior to October 18, jumping turnstiles en masse to protest the hike amid broader complaints about affordability, which drew police intervention and sparked clashes that evening, rapidly expanding into citywide unrest. Deeper frustrations centered on socioeconomic inequalities that persisted despite Chile's strong and from over 40% in the 1990s to under 10% by 2017, with benefits unevenly distributed and leaving the emerging exposed to high costs. The country's , a measure of , hovered around 44.4 as of 2017—one of the highest among nations—reflecting disparities in wealth concentration and limited . Key grievances included the privatized pension system established in 1981, under which workers mandatorily contribute 10% of monthly wages to private administrators (Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones, or AFPs), yet average payouts often fall below 250,000 pesos (about $350) monthly, insufficient for living expenses and driving elderly rates above 20%. Education costs exacerbated tensions, with university tuition averaging 3-5 million pesos annually (US$4,000-7,000) in private institutions that dominate enrollment, leading to widespread through state-guaranteed bank loans and perpetuating access barriers for lower-income families. Protesters also decried stagnant minimum wages (around 300,000 pesos or US$410 monthly in ), escalating living expenses like housing and utilities, and privatized services such as water rights allocated to corporations since the , which surveys identified as top concerns alongside inadequacies. These issues, rooted in post-dictatorship market-oriented reforms, fueled perceptions of systemic , even as Chile maintained Latin America's highest GDP at over US$15,000.

Outbreak of Protests (October 2019)

Student-Led Fare Evasion Campaigns

The student-led fare evasion campaigns in Santiago marked the initial spark of the 2019 protests, beginning shortly after the Santiago Metro authority implemented a 30 Chilean peso (approximately US$0.04) increase in peak-hour fares on October 6, 2019. Secondary school students, primarily from public institutions, organized the actions via social media platforms, using hashtags such as #EvasiónMasiva to coordinate group entries and publicize the protests against the fare adjustment, which they viewed as emblematic of broader economic pressures on low-income commuters reliant on the system. The first documented mass evasion occurred on October 7, 2019, when high school students from various establishments, including the Instituto Nacional, jumped turnstiles en masse at metro stations, disrupting operations and prompting security interventions. Subsequent days saw escalation, with over 80 students from the Instituto Nacional participating in organized evasions by , leading to heightened police presence and temporary station closures. By October 14 and 15, the campaigns intensified, resulting in the shutdown of five metro stations on each occasion due to crowds overwhelming barriers and causing operational chaos, with participants chanting slogans linking the fare hike to systemic inequalities in access to public services. These actions, while focused on the immediate tariff grievance, drew attention to the metro's role as a daily necessity for working-class and populations in , where fares had not been substantially adjusted for in prior years despite rising operational costs. The campaigns remained largely non-violent in their early phase, confined to fare-dodging and vocal demonstrations, but they strained metro resources, incurred fines for participants under Chile's transport regulations, and foreshadowed broader unrest by mobilizing youth networks accustomed to prior student mobilizations over education reforms. Authorities responded with increased deployments at turnstiles, yet the evasions persisted through , amplifying public frustration and setting the stage for the explosion of protests on October 18.

Rapid Escalation to Widespread Unrest and Violence

The fare evasion actions initiated by high school students on October 14, 2019, in against a 4% metro fare hike remained largely non-violent initially but escalated dramatically on October 18 as larger crowds gathered and confrontations with intensified. Masked protesters began vandalizing metro stations, occupying 27 facilities, damaging 12 by fire, and completely incinerating 7, which forced the shutdown of the entire system and stranded two million passengers. This destruction, coupled with attacks on buses and clashes involving stone-throwing and barricades, marked a shift from evasion to organized rioting, with over 200 arrests recorded that day and around 50 officers injured from projectiles and assaults. By October 19, the unrest had propagated beyond to regions across , including , Concepción, and , where similar tactics of , , and highway blockades emerged, paralyzing transportation and commerce. Rioters torched dozens of buses, supermarkets, and banks, contributing to at least 70 serious violent incidents, including 40 reported s, as crowds exploited the chaos to target symbols of while police responded with and water cannons. The rapid spread, facilitated by coordination and a leaderless structure, transformed localized student discontent into nationwide disorder, with damages to public infrastructure exceeding hundreds of millions in initial estimates. The escalation's velocity stemmed from pent-up socioeconomic frustrations amplifying opportunistic , as empirical analyses describe an epidemic-like of unrest where initial acts in urban centers inspired replication elsewhere, outpacing institutional response capacities. While many participants sought peaceful expression, subsets engaged in premeditated destruction—such as coordinated station occupations—escalating tensions and drawing broader involvement, including from unaffiliated opportunists, which by necessitated the metro's weekend closure and foreshadowed further national mobilization. Official data from the period highlight protester-initiated fires and property attacks as primary drivers of the 's scale, distinct from subsequent countermeasures.

Government Response

Declaration of State of Emergency

On October 19, 2019, Chilean President declared a in and six surrounding provinces amid widespread riots, , and looting that erupted following student-led campaigns in the capital's metro system on October 18. The measure was enacted after protesters set fire to at least 20 metro stations, damaged over 70 others, and engaged in extensive vandalism, paralyzing public transport and causing an estimated $300 million in initial damages to the metro infrastructure. In a televised that evening, Piñera stated that the government was transferring responsibility for maintaining public order to the armed forces, marking the first such military deployment in since the end of Augusto Pinochet's in 1990. The declaration empowered military personnel, under the command of General Javier Iturriaga del Campo as the designated head of the national emergency operations, to enforce restrictions on assembly and movement, including imposing a nationwide from 22:00 to 05:00 local time starting that night. Approximately 10,000 troops were mobilized to patrol streets, assist overwhelmed police forces, and prevent further disorder, with tanks and armored vehicles deployed in key urban areas for the first time in democratic . This constitutional mechanism, outlined in Article 39 of Chile's 1980 Constitution, allowed the executive to suspend certain temporarily to restore order without prior congressional approval, a step Piñera justified as necessary to combat what he described as organized violence threatening national stability. The initially covered the but was extended to additional provinces on as unrest spread nationwide, reflecting the government's assessment that civilian police resources were insufficient against sustained acts of sabotage and criminality. Critics, including organizations, later argued that the measure facilitated excessive force, though contemporaneous reports emphasized its role in curbing immediate threats like attacks on public buildings and supermarkets, which had resulted in over 1,000 arrests by October 19. Piñera defended the declaration as a proportionate response to an "" employing unlimited violence, underscoring the causal link between unchecked rioting and the need for escalated authority to protect infrastructure and civilian safety.

Deployment of Military and Police Measures

On October 19, 2019, amid escalating violence including arson attacks on metro stations and widespread looting, President declared a in and several provinces, placing the in charge of public security. This marked the first for since the end of Augusto Pinochet's in 1990. Approximately 8,000 troops were mobilized overnight to , , and Concepción, supported by armored vehicles for street patrols and enforcement of order. A nocturnal was immediately enacted in , commencing at 10:00 p.m. and lasting until 6:00 a.m., with extensions to other cities like Concepción and ; this measure was prolonged for six consecutive nights to curb nighttime vandalism and riots. units conducted visible patrols in centers, checkpoints at key sites, and assistance in efforts against torched buildings and vehicles, aiming to deter further destruction estimated to affect over 500 metro facilities and numerous commercial establishments. By , combined forces of around 10,500 police officers and soldiers were active in alone. The , Chile's uniformed police, intensified their deployment alongside the military, with specialized anti-riot units positioned at protest hotspots, hubs, and government buildings. Officers utilized non-lethal munitions such as canisters and pressurized water cannons from armored vehicles to manage crowds, while maintaining lines to safeguard against incursions into restricted zones. The , which suspended certain constitutional rights including limits on , was extended multiple times before being revoked on October 28, 2019, after initial unrest subsided. Piñera justified the measures on by stating the country was "at war with a powerful, relentless enemy," referring to sustained violent disruptions.

Initial Policy Concessions and Social Agenda

On October 23, 2019, President announced an initial package of social reforms in response to the escalating protests, aiming to address demands for economic relief and reduced inequality. The measures included a 20% increase in the universal basic solidarity pension, raising it from approximately 257,000 Chilean pesos to support low-income elderly citizens; a commitment to elevate the from 301,000 pesos to 350,000 pesos within two years; a freeze on pharmaceutical prices to curb healthcare costs; and guarantees for minimum wages in public contracting to protect workers in outsourced roles. These steps followed the government's earlier reversal of the Santiago Metro fare hike on October 20, which had served as the immediate trigger for the unrest, restoring fares to pre-increase levels across peak and off-peak hours. The reforms were framed by Piñera as part of a broader "social agenda" to tackle long-standing grievances over , healthcare access, and wage stagnation, with additional promises to cap out-of-pocket health expenses and explore tax adjustments on higher incomes. However, the package did not include structural changes to the privatized system or funding, core protester demands rooted in critiques of neoliberal policies inherited from the dictatorship era. Critics, including opposition lawmakers and protest leaders, dismissed the concessions as insufficient and reactive, arguing they failed to address systemic where the bottom 40% of earners held less than 10% of national income, per data from 2017. On October 27, 2019, amid continued demonstrations, Piñera dismissed his entire cabinet—eight ministers in total—to signal a pivot toward implementing the social agenda more aggressively, appointing new figures perceived as more attuned to reformist pressures. This reshuffle, which included replacements in key portfolios like finance and interior, was intended to rebuild and facilitate dialogue on the promised changes, though it coincided with a national strike and further unrest, indicating limited immediate impact. The government's strategy emphasized targeted fiscal adjustments over wholesale policy overhauls, allocating an estimated 3.5 trillion pesos (about $4.2 billion USD) for the initial measures, funded partly through spending reallocations rather than new revenue sources. Despite these efforts, empirical indicators such as sustained protest turnout—peaking at over 1 million participants on —suggested the concessions did not quell underlying frustrations over causal factors like stagnant amid rising living costs.

Key Events and Milestones

Mass Demonstrations and "The Biggest March"

Following the outbreak of unrest on October 18, 2019, protests in transitioned into large-scale demonstrations emphasizing peaceful assembly and demands for systemic reforms addressing inequality, pensions, education, and healthcare. These mass gatherings, occurring daily in and other cities, drew hundreds of thousands by mid-October, with participants converging on key sites like Plaza Baquedano (later renamed Plaza de la Dignidad by protesters) to voice grievances against economic disparities exacerbated by the 2010-2019 . Unlike the initial fare evasion actions and subsequent riots, these events largely avoided violence, focusing instead on cacerolazos (pot-banging protests) and marches that pressured the government amid the ongoing . The pinnacle of these demonstrations occurred on October 25, , dubbed "La Marcha Más Grande de la Historia de Chile" (The Biggest March in Chile's History) by organizers and participants. In , an estimated 1 million people participated, representing over 5% of the national population, according to Karla Rubilar's assessment reported contemporaneously. This figure was corroborated by aerial footage and eyewitness accounts showing protesters stretching for miles along major avenues, effectively halting urban transport and commerce. Nationwide, participation exceeded 3 million across more than 70 cities, underscoring the movement's breadth, though 's turnout defined the event's scale. The march proceeded peacefully, with crowds banging pots and chanting slogans against President Sebastián Piñera's administration, demanding his resignation and structural changes to address privatization-driven inequalities. maintained a visible presence but refrained from major interventions, contrasting with earlier confrontations. officials acknowledged the demonstration's magnitude, with Piñera later describing it as a "" that influenced subsequent policy dialogues, though critics from protest groups viewed official attendance estimates as potentially conservative to downplay the unrest's legitimacy. This event marked a strategic shift toward sustained, non-violent mobilization, galvanizing public support and setting the stage for negotiations like the "Agreement for Social Peace."

Agreement for Social Peace and Constitutional Commitment

On November 15, 2019, amid escalating protests that had persisted for a month, leaders of Chile's major signed the Acuerdo por la Paz Social y la Nueva Constitución (Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution), a pact aimed at de-escalating unrest by committing to institutional reforms. The document was endorsed by ten parties spanning the government coalition led by President and most opposition groups, though it excluded the and the Broad Front alliance, which criticized it as insufficiently responsive to protesters' demands. Signatories pledged to restore public order, condemn violence from all actors including protesters and state forces, and uphold while supporting the government's authority to maintain stability. The agreement's core provision addressed long-standing grievances over inequality and the 1980 Constitution—drafted under the Pinochet dictatorship—by outlining a roadmap for its potential replacement. It mandated to amend the existing within 45 days to enable a mandatory plebiscite asking citizens whether to draft a new text, with options for the drafting body including a fully elected constitutional or a mixed commission of elected delegates and current legislators. This process emphasized citizen participation, with the plebiscite scheduled for October 2020 (delayed from April due to the ) and subsequent elections for convention members if approved. The pact also called for immediate social measures, such as pension increases and wage adjustments, though these were framed as complementary to the constitutional effort rather than standalone concessions. Critics, including non-signatory parties and street protesters, argued the agreement prioritized elite negotiation over direct democratic input, potentially sidelining radical demands for systemic change like of resources. Nonetheless, it marked a rare cross-partisan , halting immediate threats of institutional collapse and channeling unrest into a formalized path, with signatories forming a technical committee to refine implementation details. The accord's emphasis on orderly transition reflected empirical recognition that unchecked protests had already caused over 20 deaths, thousands of injuries, and billions in economic damage by mid-November.

Violence, Casualties, and Human Rights Issues

Protester Violence, Looting, and Infrastructure Destruction

During the initial escalation on October 18, 2019, student-led campaigns in transitioned into coordinated acts of vandalism and arson targeting the system, with protesters occupying and damaging 27 stations, setting fires in 12, and completely burning seven others. This destruction paralyzed the metro network, which serves over 2.5 million daily passengers, and extended to buses and other public transport, as rioters within protest groups ignited vehicles and barricades to block roadways. Such actions, including the use of cocktails thrown at and , marked a shift from evasion to deliberate , contributing to the government's declaration of a the following day. Looting proliferated amid the unrest, particularly in peripheral and low-income areas of Santiago and other cities, where groups exploited the chaos to ransack commercial establishments. In the first week alone, 329 stores nationwide were looted, with totals climbing to over 1,200 incidents of saqueos (lootings) and resaqueos (re-lootings) by mid-November. Supermarkets bore the brunt, with 344 locations saqueados and 34 fully incinerated, alongside broader commercial losses estimated at US$1.4 billion from theft, fire, and vandalism. These acts often involved organized groups entering stores under cover of protests, stripping shelves of goods ranging from food to electronics, and in some cases setting fires post-looting to destroy evidence or escalate disruption. Infrastructure destruction extended beyond transport hubs to urban fabric, with targeting supermarkets, pharmacies, and public buildings, exacerbating economic disruption in affected regions. Nearly 80 metro stations suffered damage, rendering much of the system inoperable for days and requiring extensive repairs. Protesters also assaulted police stations and erected burning barricades on highways, hindering emergency responses and commerce; in regions like La Araucanía and Biobío, such tactics isolated communities and facilitated further looting. While some analysts attribute portions of the violence to criminal opportunism amid mass demonstrations, eyewitness accounts and official records confirm protester participation in coordinated and property attacks, distinct from peaceful marches.

Police Tactics and Claims of Excessive Force

The , the national police force, employed a range of measures during the 2019 protests, including the widespread deployment of , water cannons (often laced with irritants), and anti-riot shotguns firing rubberized buckshot or pellets. These tactics were frequently applied in response to both peaceful demonstrations and instances of protester violence, such as and , but reports documented patterns of indiscriminate use against non-threatening individuals, including firing at close range and targeting the upper body or head. Claims of excessive force centered on the misuse of less-lethal projectiles, which caused severe injuries, particularly to the eyes; by early 2019, health authorities recorded 352 ocular injuries, with 1,554 total injuries attributed to pellets, including cases of permanent blindness such as that of Gustavo Gatica, who lost vision in both eyes from pellets on November 8 during operations at Plaza Italia in . Anti-riot s, loaded with TEC Harseim pellets or similar ammunition, were fired over 104,000 times in October alone, often in violation of protocols limiting their use to imminent threats, leading and to describe a deliberate pattern of targeting protesters' faces and chests. Additional allegations involved physical assaults, vehicle ramming, and abuses in detention facilities, where over 15,000 arrests occurred; the National Institute of (INDH) filed 442 criminal complaints by late November, encompassing 341 for or inhumane treatment and 74 for , including forced nudity and beatings of detainees, such as the case of Alex Núñez, who died on October 22 from police-inflicted injuries during custody. The Office of the High Commissioner for verified 133 cases and 24 instances of , disproportionately affecting women, adolescents, and journalists, amid broader reports of 3,449 total injuries from state agents by December 6. In response, the government suspended the use of anti-riot shotguns on November 19, 2019, following mounting evidence of their lethality, and the Attorney General's Office opened investigations into abuses against 2,278 individuals and 26 deaths potentially linked to security forces, with 273 administrative cases against officers by that date. However, and the OHCHR highlighted command responsibility failures, noting that senior leaders received real-time reports of violations yet failed to adjust tactics or impose sanctions promptly, contributing to perceptions of impunity despite over 4,170 legal complaints filed.

Casualty Statistics and Independent Investigations

Official records from the Chilean (Fiscalía) indicate that 30 people died in incidents related to the protests between October 18, 2019, and March 31, 2020. Of earlier tallied deaths reported by the Ministry of Public Affairs in February 2020, 33 fatalities were documented, with only four attributed to actions by state agents such as or , while the remaining 29 resulted from other causes including civilian confrontations, during , and accidental fires. The National Institute of (INDH) has claimed seven deaths directly caused by state agents based on its filed complaints, though these figures stem from advocacy-oriented querellas rather than finalized judicial determinations. Injuries numbered in the thousands, with the Fiscalía confirming 464 cases of ocular trauma, primarily from rubber pellets or projectiles fired by . A Office of the High Commissioner for (OHCHR) assessment through early December 2019 reported nearly 5,000 injuries overall, including over 200 eye wounds at that stage. The (IACHR), citing the Chilean Medical College, documented at least 283 eye injuries from non-lethal munitions or irritants by December 2019. sustained injuries as well, with national reports noting around 1,600 affected, 105 seriously, though these received less emphasis in international documentation. Independent probes, including a UN fact-finding mission in November 2019, cataloged widespread allegations of excessive force, , and by security forces, attributing these to protest dynamics but recommending systemic police reforms without equivalent scrutiny of protester-initiated violence. Amnesty International's 2020 analysis of 12 cases highlighted patterns suggestive of intentional blinding via targeted shots to the head and upper body, holding senior officials accountable for policy failures. similarly urged accountability for abuses like beatings and pellet-gun injuries in 172 documented cases. Domestically, the Fiscalía has pursued over 35,000 registered crimes, including 11,500 investigations into illegal coercion, yielding a of approximately 14.3% as of October 2025, reflecting challenges in evidence collection amid chaotic events and potential overreporting of state culpability in initial complaints. The INDH submitted 3,216 querellas by 2023, resulting in just 34 condemnatory sentences, underscoring limited judicial outcomes despite extensive filings. These efforts, while revealing state overreach in crowd control, have faced criticism for uneven application, as protester-perpetrated fatalities and property destruction investigations progressed separately with fewer international resources.

Economic Impacts

Direct Costs of Damage and Disruption

The 2019 protests in resulted in extensive physical damage to public infrastructure, particularly the system, where 118 of 136 stations were vandalized, along with tracks and trains, necessitating repairs estimated at US$255 million to fully rehabilitate the network. Additional destruction targeted public buses, government buildings, and utilities across , , and Concepción, contributing to a government-assessed total of US$1.4 billion in infrastructure repair costs. Private sector damages were similarly severe, with over 600 businesses looted or vandalized, including supermarkets, pharmacies, and warehouses, leading to estimated losses exceeding $1.4 billion from , , and structural harm. Incidents included the torching of factories, a university building, and churches, amplifying direct material losses through fire and pillage. Disruption compounded these costs, as the Santiago Metro's closure for over two weeks halted daily commutes for millions, while widespread road blockades and paralyzed commerce and public services, contributing to an overall government-estimated direct loss of US$3 billion from violence and disorder in October-November 2019. These figures encompass immediate repair expenditures and irrecoverable assets but exclude longer-term economic ripple effects.

Broader Effects on GDP, Investment, and Recovery

The 2019 protests triggered an immediate in economic activity, particularly in the fourth quarter, where de-seasonalized GDP declined by 2.4% due to widespread disruptions including halts, business closures, and reduced . This contributed to annual GDP growth decelerating to 0.6% for 2019, a sharp slowdown from 4.0% in 2018, as the unrest eroded short-term confidence and output in key sectors like retail, services, and construction. The social upheaval elevated uncertainty, with Twitter-based indices spiking sharply after , 2019, reflecting perceptions of institutional fragility and policy unpredictability that deterred decisions. This uncertainty manifested in subdued , which grew only 1.4% quarter-on-quarter in early 2020 following the protests, compared to stronger prior , as firms delayed expansions amid risks of further . Foreign direct investment inflows proved somewhat resilient in 2019, totaling $13,049 million, buoyed by prior commitments in and , but declined to $8,640 million in 2020 amid compounding effects of unrest-driven and the onset. The protests' legacy of and the subsequent constitutional reform process sustained elevated uncertainty into the , contributing to a broader deceleration in trend growth rates below historical averages of 4-5%, as evidenced by analyses linking post-2019 volatility to subdued and gains. Economic recovery accelerated in with GDP expanding 11.7%, driven by pent-up demand and commodity exports, yet the period since has seen structurally weaker performance, with average annual growth around 2%, partly attributable to the erosion of Chile's reputation for stability that once attracted high FDI and domestic . assessments indicate that while direct damages were contained, the indirect channels—via prolonged debates and —have impeded a full return to pre-unrest trajectories, with corporate surveys post-2019 highlighting persistent concerns over risks.

Political Ramifications

Erosion of Piñera Administration's Legitimacy

President Sebastián Piñera's approval rating plummeted from around 29% in early October 2019 to a historic low of 14% by October 28, according to surveys by the Cadem polling firm, reflecting widespread public disillusionment with his administration's response to the escalating protests. This drop, the lowest for any Chilean president since the 1990 return to democracy, stemmed from perceptions that the government was out of touch with socioeconomic grievances, including rising living costs and inequality, which the fare hike symbolized but did not solely cause. The declaration of a on October 19, 2019, in —accompanied by military deployment to the streets and curfews—intensified the legitimacy crisis by evoking authoritarian echoes of the Pinochet era and appearing disproportionate to the initial unrest. Piñera justified the measures by framing the protests as a "war" against an "enemy," a that alienated moderates and protesters alike, who saw it as evasive of dialogue on structural reforms. Critics, including opposition figures, argued the swift without prior public address exacerbated tensions rather than quelling them, leading to broader accusations of governance failure. By October 25, 2019, over one million demonstrators marched in alone—the largest protest in Chilean history—explicitly calling for Piñera's amid chants decrying and policy . In a bid to salvage credibility, Piñera announced on October 26 that all ministers should submit to enable a reshuffle focused on social issues, but a Cadem poll the following day revealed 80% of respondents viewed his reform proposals as inadequate, underscoring persistent distrust. This political isolation deepened as even partners pressured for concessions, culminating in commitments to constitutional processes that highlighted the administration's diminished authority.

Path to Constitutional Reform Initiative

Amid the escalating protests that began on October 18, 2019, demonstrators increasingly demanded the replacement of Chile's 1980 constitution, enacted under Augusto Pinochet's military regime and criticized for embedding neoliberal policies that exacerbated . Initial government responses, including a declared on October 19 and a social agenda announced on , failed to quell unrest, as protests persisted with millions participating in marches by late October. By early November, President shifted toward supporting constitutional change, stating on November 11 that a new could address grievances if demanded by the public. Negotiations intensified among , culminating in the "Acuerdo por la Paz Social y la Nueva Constitución" signed on November 15, 2019, by representatives from the ruling coalition (including UDI, , , and PRI) and opposition parties (, PPD, , PDC, PCCh, Frente Amplio parties like and Comunes, and ). This 12-point pact committed signatories to restoring public order, rejecting violence, and initiating a democratic process for constitutional reform, explicitly aiming to "guarantee peace and ." The agreement outlined a two-stage plebiscite: the first, initially scheduled for April 26, 2020, to ask citizens whether to draft a new (with options for replacement or maintenance of the existing text); the second to select the drafting body—either a mixed of incumbent legislators and citizens or a fully elected constitutional —and establish rules like parity of in the . Subsequent legislation in December 2019 formalized these steps, including requirements for the new text to be ratified by a second plebiscite, though the initial vote was postponed to October 25, 2020, due to the . Critics, including some leaders, viewed the elite-driven pact as insufficiently participatory, arguing it sidelined grassroots input in favor of partisan compromise amid ongoing unrest. Despite this, the initiative marked a direct causal link from pressures to institutional reform, with the agreement's success in de-escalating violence evidenced by reduced daily clashes post-signing, though sporadic demonstrations continued.

Constitutional Process Outcomes

2020 Plebiscite and Constitutional Convention

Following the 2019 protests, on November 15, leaders of most Chilean political parties signed the Acuerdo por la Paz Social y la Nueva Constitución, committing to a plebiscite on replacing the 1980 constitution—originally enacted under —with a new one drafted by an elected body, as a means to address demands for institutional reform while restoring order. The agreement specified that the plebiscite would occur in the second half of 2020 (delayed from April due to the ) and outlined options for the drafting body: a fully elected constitutional convention or a mixed commission of current legislators and elected citizens. The plebiscite took place on , 2020, with voters approving a new by 78.2% to 21.8% and selecting the citizen constitutional option by 79% to 21%. was approximately 50.9%, lower than in previous national elections but higher than some local ones, reflecting compulsory voting's enforcement amid pandemic restrictions. The results, certified by the Electoral Service of , mandated elections for 155 convention members—elected from districts mirroring congressional ones, with reserved seats for groups and enforced (at least 50% women)—to be held within six months. Elections for the occurred on May 15–16, 2021, alongside regional and municipal races, with over 1,400 candidates competing; independents and left-leaning lists secured a slim of seats (around 57% combined), while traditional parties held fewer, signaling voter disillusionment with established . The convened on July 4, 2021, in Santiago's former National Congress building, with its sole mandate to draft a new within nine months (extendable once by three months), submit it for congressional review on technicalities only, and present it to voters in a second plebiscite for approval or rejection. Rules adopted early emphasized participatory mechanisms, including public consultations, but debates arose over procedural rigidity, with some critics noting the body's non-partisan design risked ideological fragmentation despite parity and representation (17 seats).

2022 Draft Rejection and Voter Backlash

On September 4, , Chilean voters participated in a national plebiscite to approve or reject the draft constitution produced by the 155-member Constitutional , which had been elected in May 2021 and tasked with replacing the charter. With a turnout of 85.6%, approximately 7.88 million voters (61.9%) opted to reject the proposal, while 4.89 million (38.1%) supported approval, marking a decisive defeat for the draft amid widespread concerns over its content. The high participation rate, higher than the 50.9% in the plebiscite that initiated the process, underscored intense public engagement and division. The rejection stemmed from voter perceptions that the draft, dominated by input from left-leaning and independent delegates who held a majority of seats, veered too far from centrist preferences and introduced unbalanced provisions. Critics, including economists and business leaders, highlighted articles that appeared to undermine private property rights, such as those enabling expropriation for social or environmental goals without clear compensation mechanisms, and expansions of state control over natural resources and pensions, which were seen as risking economic instability. Polling data indicated that even regions and demographics that favored the 2020 "yes" vote—often urban and protest-affected areas—shifted toward rejection, reflecting disillusionment with the convention's ideological tilt, including emphases on indigenous plurinationalism, gender parity quotas, and expansive environmental mandates that some argued prioritized symbolism over practical reforms to inequality and pensions. Independent analyses noted the draft's length (over 300 articles versus the original's 120) and lack of consensus-building contributed to fears of unintended consequences, with 62% of voters citing unreadability or extremity as factors. This outcome triggered a pronounced voter backlash against the progressive factions driving the process, eroding support for President Gabriel Boric's administration, which had aligned with the draft despite campaign promises of moderation. Post-referendum surveys showed a surge in approval for right-leaning parties, with opposition figures gaining traction by framing the rejection as a defense of democratic stability and market-oriented policies against perceived radicalism. The backlash manifested in subsequent electoral shifts, including stronger conservative performance in local elections and congressional by-elections, signaling public demand for incremental changes rather than wholesale restructuring. Boric acknowledged the defeat as a "clear signal" from voters, leading to a congressional agreement for a second convention process, though it too faltered in 2023 amid similar dynamics. Overall, the 2022 plebiscite highlighted a causal disconnect between the 2019 protests' grievances—centered on economic disparities—and the convention's outputs, which alienated moderate voters seeking targeted fixes over ideological overhauls.

2023 Second Attempt and Further Failure

Following the rejection of the 2020-2022 constitutional draft in September 2022, Chilean political parties reached the "Agreement for Chile" on December 13, 2022, establishing a second process to draft a new . This included electing a 50-member Constitutional via district-based , alongside appointing 24 experts to propose amendments, with final approval requiring a two-thirds council majority. The process aimed to address prior criticisms of ideological imbalance by incorporating expert input and veto mechanisms for the ruling coalition. Elections for the Constitutional Council occurred on May 7, 2023, with yielding a turnout of approximately 84%. Right-wing parties secured a dominant position, with the —led by —obtaining 22 seats (35.4% of votes), and the allied Seguro coalition adding 11 seats (17.4% of votes), for a total of 33 seats enabling control without left-wing support. Left-wing parties, including President Gabriel Boric's coalition, won only 12 seats combined, while independents took the rest. This outcome reflected voter backlash against the previous left-leaning draft and Boric's administration, amid economic concerns like exceeding 12% earlier in the year. The council, convened in June 2023, tasked its 24 appointed experts with initial proposals, but the right-wing shaped a 67-chapter emphasizing a , , private property protections, and traditional structures, while rejecting plurinational recognition for groups and limiting expansions. The text, shorter than the 2022 version at around 200 articles, preserved elements of the 1980 , such as a and balanced bicameral , but added provisions for privatization and environmental regulations prioritizing . Critics from the left argued it entrenched neoliberal policies and weakened social guarantees, while supporters claimed it countered the prior 's perceived excesses in state intervention and . The proposal faced a polarized campaign, with approval ratings for Boric dropping to 28% by late , fueling opposition mobilization. On , 2023, a plebiscite rejected the draft, with 55.76% voting "Against" and 44.24% "In Favor," based on over 99% of votes counted; turnout reached 84.5%. Rejection stemmed from voter fears of regressive changes—such as reduced labor protections and —despite the draft's conservative framing appealing to concerns post-2019 unrest. Polls indicated widespread dissatisfaction with both extremes, as the proposal failed to build broad consensus, echoing the outcome and highlighting preferences for targeted reforms over wholesale replacement. Boric declared the process concluded, committing to amend the 1980 constitution piecemeal via .

Later Developments

2020 Protests During

The onset of the in , with the first confirmed case on March 3, 2020, and a state of catastrophe declared on March 19, 2020, initially shifted the focus from street protests to measures, leading to a temporary decline in mass mobilizations associated with the 2019 social outbreak. Large-scale demonstrations largely paused as restrictions on gatherings were imposed, but activists adapted by employing cacerolazos—residents banging pots and pans from windows and balconies—and sporadic smaller actions to express ongoing grievances over , government handling of the crisis, and unresolved demands from 2019. Throughout 2020, protests reemerged in response to the pandemic's exacerbation of economic hardships, particularly in low-income areas. On May 19, 2020, residents in Santiago's poorer neighborhoods, such as La Pintana and La Cisterna, protested shortages of food and basic supplies amid strict quarantines, with demonstrators clashing with police and highlighting disparities in aid distribution. Similar unrest occurred on April 27, 2020, targeting President Sebastián Piñera's administration for perceived inadequate crisis management and policy changes. Earlier, on March 1, 2020, a large cyclist advocated for constitutional , bridging pre-pandemic momentum with pandemic-era discontent. These actions, though reduced in scale compared to 2019—with fewer than the millions who participated previously—underscored persistent frustrations over of services, rising living costs, and uneven enforcement. Security forces' responses drew criticism for leveraging COVID-19 quarantine rules to suppress dissent, including excessive use of force in dispersing gatherings, which Amnesty International documented as continuing patterns of repression from the prior year's unrest. By mid-2020, over 275,000 COVID-19 cases had been reported, intertwining health risks with protest activities and amplifying debates on whether such mobilizations hindered containment efforts or legitimately highlighted systemic failures in addressing amid the crisis. The persistence of these protests, despite sanitary constraints, sustained political pressure on the Piñera government, contributing to the momentum for the October 2020 plebiscite on constitutional .

Influence on 2021 Elections and Subsequent Governments

The 2019 protests significantly eroded public support for President Sebastián Piñera's center-right coalition, , with his approval ratings falling to around 10% by late 2019 amid widespread perceptions of government mishandling of the unrest. This discontent fueled a surge in support for opposition candidates promising structural reforms to address , systems, , and healthcare—core grievances amplified during the demonstrations. In the November general elections, leftist parties aligned with protest demands captured a congressional majority for the first time since Chile's return to , reflecting a voter shift toward candidates who framed the unrest as a legitimate call for systemic change rather than mere disorder. Gabriel Boric, a 35-year-old former student leader who had participated in earlier protests against education inequality, emerged as the standard-bearer for this momentum, winning the presidential runoff on December 19, 2021, with 55.87% of the vote against ultraconservative José Antonio Kast, who positioned himself as a defender of order against the "chaos" of 2019. Boric's campaign explicitly invoked the estallido social, pledging to transform Chile from the "cradle of neoliberalism" into a model of social justice, including pension nationalization and constitutional overhaul to replace the Pinochet-era framework criticized during the protests. However, the election also highlighted polarization: while urban youth and protest sympathizers propelled Boric, many voters wary of violence and economic disruption—estimated losses from the unrest exceeded $3 billion in infrastructure damage—backed Kast, underscoring debates over whether the protests represented genuine grievances or opportunistic destruction. Boric assumed office on March 11, 2022, forming a government drawing heavily from protest-era activists and leftist coalitions like , but his administration struggled to deliver on ambitious promises amid fiscal constraints and institutional resistance. Initial reforms, such as a 2022 pension fund withdrawal allowing workers to access up to 10% of savings (totaling over $20 billion in claims), addressed immediate liquidity demands echoed in 2019 but exacerbated and deferred deeper structural fixes. Efforts to revive constitutional change failed twice—first with the 2022 plebiscite rejecting a progressive draft by 62%, then in 2023—revealing voter fatigue with radical proposals and a preference for moderated changes, as deteriorated with rates rising 45% from 2020 to 2022, shifting priorities from social equity to law and order. By 2024, Boric's approval hovered below 30%, with his coalition losing ground in regional elections where the moderate right advanced on platforms emphasizing stability over protest legacies, indicating that while the 2019 unrest catalyzed a leftward electoral pivot, it did not sustain transformative amid and unresolved . Critics, including from within the left, argue the protests' energy dissipated into fragmented politics without causal reforms to , as GDP averaged under 2% annually post-2021 and core demands like remained unmet, fostering disillusionment among original mobilizers.

Ongoing Social and Political Aftermath

The administration of President , elected in 2021 amid the momentum of the 2019 protests, has faced sustained low public approval ratings, hovering around 30% as of September 2024, reflecting disillusionment with unfulfilled promises of systemic reform. Despite initial pledges to address and public services, Boric's government has grappled with legislative gridlock and economic pressures, including a pension reform passed in 2024 that fell short of leftist expectations by preserving private accounts while increasing state contributions. This has contributed to , with polls indicating a potential rightward shift in the November 2025 presidential and congressional elections, where candidates emphasizing security and fiscal restraint lead in early surveys. Socially, the aftermath has seen a marked rise in , with rates increasing from 4.5 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2017 to over 6.7 in 2023, often linked by to uncontrolled Venezuelan migration, which surged post-2019 and now exceeds 1.5 million irregular entries. Surveys show 70% of attributing higher to migrants, fueling demands for stricter controls and deportations, which Boric's administration has partially addressed through new migration laws but with limited enforcement success. Economic inequality remains entrenched, with the top 1% capturing about 25% of pre-tax income as of 2022 data, undermining claims of progress despite targeted subsidies and hikes. Human rights investigations into the 2019 protest violence persist, with over 10,000 complaints against security forces leading to few convictions by 2023, prompting accusations of impunity from advocacy groups, though government reparations programs have compensated thousands of victims. Public trust in institutions remains low, with sporadic protests over education, pensions, and security continuing into 2024, but without the scale of the original estallido, as five years on, many citizens express fatigue with unrest amid stable GDP growth projections of 2.6% for 2024 and 2.7% for 2025. This has fostered a broader societal reckoning, where initial grievances over inequality have evolved into concerns over governance effectiveness and public safety, setting the stage for electoral realignments.

Analyses and Controversies

Debates on Protest Causes: Legitimate Grievances vs.

The debates surrounding the causes of the 2019 Chilean hinge on whether the unrest arose from profound, legitimate socioeconomic grievances or represented opportunistic exploitation of a by actors pursuing disruption and ideological goals. The immediate trigger was a 30-peso (approximately $0.04) fare increase for Santiago's system, implemented on October 6, 2019, following student protests against it that escalated into on October 18 and widespread chaos thereafter. Although the government reversed the hike on October 19 alongside other concessions like increased social spending, the protests intensified, encompassing , , and demands for systemic overhaul, including pension reform, better education access, and a new constitution. Advocates for legitimate grievances emphasize structural inequalities entrenched since the neoliberal reforms of the 1980s Pinochet era, which persisted despite Chile's economic advances. The country's was 44.9 in 2017, the highest among members, with the top 1% earning about 25% of total income and holding nearly 50% of wealth. Key complaints included privatized pensions yielding average monthly payouts of around 250,000 pesos (US$300), insufficient to cover rising urban living costs; high out-of-pocket education expenses leading to widespread ; and disparities in healthcare and water access, fostering resentment among a squeezed despite poverty's decline from nearly 40% in 1989 to about 8.6% by 2017. These issues, compounded by perceptions of and scandals, are cited as evidence of a "social gap" where objective progress failed to align with subjective feelings of exclusion, driving mass participation in what became the largest demonstrations in Chilean history. Conversely, interpretations framing the protests as opportunistic highlight the mismatch between the minor catalyst and the extreme response, attributing escalation to organized extremists rather than universal hardship. President , on October 20, 2019, declared a , stating Chile faced "a powerful, relentless enemy" willing to employ unlimited violence, and later described the events as a "non-traditional " orchestrated to undermine institutions without armed forces' direct involvement. The persistence of destruction— including over 100 metro stations damaged, looted, and churches burned—despite rapid policy reversals, pointed to "encapuchados" (hooded agitators) and ideological groups, such as anarchists and far-left militants, hijacking initial student actions for political gain. 's pre-protest metrics, including Latin America's highest GDP per capita (over US$15,000), below 7%, and sustained growth, contradicted narratives of imminent collapse, suggesting amplified discontent via social media and opportunistic mobilization rather than solely endogenous grievances. Empirical assessments reveal a hybrid dynamic, where real disparities coexisted with disproportionate violence that inflicted billions in economic damage and over 30 deaths, mostly linked to rioting rather than alone. Analyses from economic institutes argue that while perceptions fueled broad support, the unrest's leaderless yet destructive trajectory—escalating beyond addressable demands—evidences strategic opportunism by minorities, as similar levels in prior decades had not provoked equivalent upheaval. Mainstream narratives often prioritize without fully crediting poverty alleviation and institutional stability, potentially reflecting ideological biases in and that overlook causal factors like organized incitement.

Assessments of Protest Effectiveness: Achievements vs. Destructive Consequences

The 2019 protests forced President to reverse the fare hike on October 19, 2019, and announce immediate social concessions, including increases to the , state pensions, and basic food baskets, alongside stabilization of prices. These measures addressed some immediate grievances but failed to quell the unrest, as demonstrators demanded broader systemic changes. The movement also prompted cabinet reshuffles, with eight ministries changed by October 28, 2019, and Piñera's approval rating dropping to historic lows. A key purported achievement was catalyzing a constitutional replacement process: on November 15, 2019, Piñera agreed to a plebiscite, held , , where 78% voted to draft a new , leading to a left-leaning convention. However, the resulting 2022 draft—criticized for excessive , including provisions for plurinationality and expansive social rights—was rejected by 62% of voters on September 4, 2022, for diverging from mainstream values and lacking balance. A second, more conservative draft in 2023 fared worse, rejected by 55.6% on December 17, 2023, due to insufficient protections for , perceived overreach in , and distrust in the drafting council's representativeness. These failures left the 1980 Pinochet-era intact, suggesting the protests accelerated but yielded no enduring structural , with analysts attributing rejections to the process's and detachment from voter priorities. In contrast, the protests inflicted severe destructive consequences, including at least 31 civilian deaths, over 2,300 injuries, and nearly 400 cases of eye trauma or blindness, many from police projectiles but amid clashes involving protester and . Rioters caused an estimated $4.6 billion in infrastructure damage during the first month alone, with Santiago's metro system—80% of stations vandalized—requiring $1.5 billion in repairs and halting service for weeks. Overall economic losses reached $3 billion, equivalent to 1.1% of GDP, through disrupted commerce, tourism decline, and interruptions. UN documentation highlighted 113 cases and 24 incidents during detentions, while widespread of supermarkets and of buses exacerbated chaos, alienating moderate supporters and contributing to a backlash where retrospective approval fell to 23% by 2024. Assessments of net effectiveness remain divided: proponents, often from progressive circles, credit the unrest with exposing entrenched inequalities and shifting political discourse leftward, though without quantifiable long-term gains beyond heightened awareness. Critics, including economic analyses, argue the violence's disproportionate toll—disrupting daily life, eroding institutional trust, and provoking conservative voter mobilization—undermined legitimacy and perpetuated the , as failed reforms and economic scarring outweighed ephemeral concessions. Empirical indicators, such as persistent for abuses on both sides and the constitutional dead-ends, support views that opportunistic elements amplified destruction over constructive change, with public sentiment five years later reflecting disillusionment rather than transformation.

Role of Media, Social Networks, and Ideological Influences

Social media platforms were instrumental in the rapid mobilization and coordination of the Chilean protests, facilitating a leaderless, decentralized that bypassed traditional organizational structures. On , , students used hashtags like #EvasionMasiva on and to organize mass in Santiago's metro system, sparking the initial escalation from localized actions to nationwide unrest. A probabilistic survey of 1,000 Chilean youth aged 18-29, conducted in November-December , revealed that 48.9% participated in protests, with daily users 18 percentage points more likely to join than non-users; political activities on the platform, such as sharing opinions or reposting content, further mediated pathways to attendance via heightened interpersonal discussions. Platforms also enabled real-time sharing of police brutality footage and counter-narratives, filling gaps left by distrusted traditional outlets and amplifying participation among digitally active demographics. However, social media proliferated , including false claims about protester villainization and staged , prompting the emergence of fact-checking efforts. Mainstream Chilean , often aligned with neoliberal or right-leaning perspectives, predominantly framed coverage through a "riot paradigm," emphasizing and disorder over underlying grievances, which alienated audiences and eroded credibility. An analysis of 361 television reports from public and private broadcasters during the uprising found pervasive "media "—a focus on confined scenes—that reinforced narratives while marginalizing peaceful demands. In comparative studies, Chilean outlets applied riot frames to 37.5% of protest stories (N=150), higher than in similar Colombian coverage, contributing to protester perceptions of and a shift toward alternative digital sources like El Desconcierto for unfiltered accounts of events. This distrust, compounded by historical media concentration, fueled reliance on social networks for information, though it also exacerbated echo chambers and cycles. Ideological influences shaped the protests' trajectory, with radical left and anarchist elements injecting militancy that distinguished the unrest from purely spontaneous grievance expression. Anarchist sentiments underpinned the "militant fringe," employing tactics—masked groups engaging in and clashes—to escalate confrontations, as observed in Santiago's street actions where such methods symbolized broader anti-neoliberal rejection. While the estallido social originated from economic triggers like inequality in pensions and education, ideological opportunism emerged as diverse actors, including feminists and indigenous groups, leveraged the chaos to promote agendas like constitutional overhaul, unifying disparate claims under anti-elite rhetoric. Chilean authorities alleged external ideological meddling, identifying Venezuelan and Cuban nationals among rioters and noting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's public endorsement, though analysts attribute limited evidence of orchestration beyond opportunistic solidarity from leftist regimes. These dynamics highlight how ideological fringes amplified destruction—estimated at over $3 billion in damages—potentially undermining moderate gains, as radical actions polarized responses without direct causal ties to the protests' core socioeconomic drivers.

International Reactions

Global Media Coverage and Solidarity Movements

International media outlets extensively covered the 2019 Chilean protests, portraying them as a spontaneous eruption against entrenched social inequalities in a nation long hailed as Latin America's economic outlier, with low poverty rates around 8.6% and consistent GDP growth exceeding 3% annually prior to the unrest. Outlets such as the BBC emphasized the escalation from a metro fare hike to broader grievances over living costs, reporting 11 deaths by October 21, 2019, amid clashes that damaged infrastructure valued at over $3 billion USD. The Guardian framed the events as Chile's most severe unrest in decades, featuring protester testimonials decrying subjugation by the wealthy and calling for systemic overhaul, while highlighting demands for constitutional reform. Similarly, analyses noted a prevalent narrative in global reporting that linked the protests to inequality metrics like the Gini coefficient of 0.46, despite empirical data showing Chile's per capita income surpassing regional peers and social mobility improving post-1990s reforms. Coverage often prioritized protester perspectives and allegations of police overreach, with U.S. and European juxtaposing images of demonstrations against reports of force responses, though studies of framing revealed a tendency in outlets to underscore protester violence alongside order-maintenance efforts by authorities. This approach contrasted with domestic Chilean 's heavier reliance on "" paradigms, which depicted 37.5% of events through lenses of over legitimate grievance. International reporting, however, frequently downplayed the role of organized violence—including of 70+ metro stations and of thousands of businesses—attributing escalation to underlying economic disparities rather than opportunistic elements amid the largely peaceful core mobilizations that drew up to 1.2 million participants in on October 25, 2019. Solidarity movements abroad were expressed primarily through NGO condemnations and scattered activist actions rather than widespread transnational protests. issued reports accusing Chilean forces of deliberate policies to injure demonstrators, including excessive and , thereby aligning with protester narratives on abuses and garnering support from global networks. The unrest inspired enthusiastic international discourse on inequality, with left-leaning commentators and organizations framing it as a "waking up" to neoliberal failures, though verifiable large-scale rallies in or the U.S. remained limited, confined mostly to Chilean diaspora gatherings and statements from groups in cities like and . This global sympathy, amplified via , contributed to pressure on Piñera's administration but did not translate into coordinated international mobilizations comparable to those for other contemporaneous events like Hong Kong's pro-democracy actions.

Criticisms from Governments, NGOs, and Foreign Observers

Human Rights Watch (HRW) documented widespread excessive use of force by Chile's national police, Carabineros, during the 2019 protests, reporting that security forces injured thousands of protesters, including through the deliberate use of less-lethal weapons like rubber bullets fired at head level. HRW's November 2019 assessment, based on interviews and video evidence, highlighted systematic abuses in detention centers, such as beatings and sexual violence, and urged comprehensive police reforms to prevent recurrence. Amnesty International similarly condemned Carabineros for a "deliberate policy" of injuring demonstrators to deter protests, as detailed in its October 2020 report Eyes on Chile, which examined 12 cases of deaths, , and severe injuries between October 18 and November 30, 2019. The report attributed responsibility to the chain of command, citing evidence of ordered use of and against detainees, including women and minors, and noted over 460 eye injuries from projectiles. , while focused on state accountability, has faced criticism for emphasizing government repression over protester-initiated violence, such as and that caused at least 20 deaths and billions in property damage. United Nations human rights experts, in a November 2023 statement, called for justice and accountability for violations during the 2019-2020 unrest, reporting hundreds of injuries and nearly 400 cases of eye trauma or vision loss from police munitions. The UN's earlier December 2019 mission report identified "multiple root causes" of the violence but stressed that security forces' disproportionate response exacerbated the crisis, including arbitrary detentions exceeding 10,000. A UN investigative team dispatched in late 2019 focused on allegations of abuses reminiscent of past authoritarian practices, though it acknowledged protester violence as a factor. The (IACHR), part of the (OAS), in December 2019 condemned the "excessive use of force" by Chilean authorities, expressing particular alarm over the high incidence of eye injuries—over 200 documented by then—from non-lethal weapons. The IACHR urged investigations into security protocols and protection of protesters' rights, while noting the state's obligation to maintain public order amid widespread destruction, including attacks on infrastructure that disrupted services for millions. Foreign government criticisms were more muted compared to NGO pronouncements, with some left-leaning administrations in , such as under President López Obrador, calling for restraint and dialogue without formal condemnations. Right-leaning leaders, including Brazil's , expressed support for President Piñera's efforts to restore order, amid Chilean claims of foreign agitators from and infiltrating protests—evidenced by arrests of over 100 such nationals—to destabilize the government. The and voiced concerns over but prioritized calls for peaceful resolution over direct rebuke of security measures.

References

  1. [1]
    The 2019 Chilean Social Upheaval: A Descriptive Approach
    Oct 9, 2023 · In 2019, student protests over an increase in subway fare in Chile escalated into violence and a leaderless nationwide social upheaval.
  2. [2]
    [PDF] The Reasons for the Mass Protests in Chile 2019/2020 - IPE Berlin
    Aug 7, 2021 · This paper aims to systematically analyse how the Chilean protests arose and developed into such a mass movement in 2019 and 2020. I explain the ...
  3. [3]
    What's Behind the Chile Protests? - Council on Foreign Relations
    It soon escalated as rioters burned buses and metro stations, looted businesses, and clashed with security forces. Most demonstrations have been peaceful, ...
  4. [4]
    (PDF) The 2019–2020 Chilean protests: A first look at their causes ...
    In 2019, student protests over an increase in subway fare in Chile escalated into violence and a leaderless nationwide social upheaval. This research note takes ...
  5. [5]
    [PDF] CHILE 2019 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT - State Department
    Five persons were killed by security forces in separate incidents during widespread civil unrest in October and November.
  6. [6]
    causal evidence from the 2019 Chilean social unrest
    Jul 9, 2025 · We examine the relationship between proximity to actively policed protest events and people's willingness to justify violence against police forces.
  7. [7]
    [PDF] Inequality in Chile - Harvard Kennedy School
    Sep 1, 2023 · Chile is very unequal; the top 1% earn a quarter of income and own almost 50% of wealth. Protests reflect concerns about inequities in economic ...Missing: critique | Show results with:critique
  8. [8]
    The anatomy of the 2019 Chilean social unrest - AIP Publishing
    We analyze the 2019 Chilean social unrest episode, consisting of a sequence of events, through the lens of an epidemic-like model that considers global ...
  9. [9]
    Chile: Selected Issues in: IMF Staff Country Reports Volume 2023 ...
    Jan 20, 2023 · The average GDP growth rate over the last two decades in Chile (3.7 percent) has been significantly above the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) ...
  10. [10]
    The Reality of Inequality and Its Perception: Chile's Paradox Explained
    Nov 19, 2019 · Figure 3 indicates that Chile is among the countries that have reduced inequality the fastest since 2000–the Gini declined from 56 to 46. Other ...
  11. [11]
    Gini index - Chile - World Bank Open Data
    The Gini index data for Chile is from the World Bank, based on primary household survey data from 1987 to 2022.
  12. [12]
    Assessing Chile's Pension System: Challenges and Reform Options in
    Chile's pension system faces challenges including low replacement rates, low contribution rates, and low contribution densities, and needs to adapt to changing ...
  13. [13]
    Early pension withdrawals in Chile during the pandemic
    Aug 22, 2023 · Chile's pension system has been criticized by some for charging high fees and paying relatively low benefits – charges that the 2014 Pension ...
  14. [14]
    Health Reform in the Midst of a Social and Political Crisis in Chile ...
    Jul 24, 2020 · The protests also called for reforms to address poor quality education and unequal access to higher education, as well as concerns about ...
  15. [15]
    CHILE: A Social Explosion | Center for Latin American & Caribbean ...
    Pervasive demands for a “dignified life” or simply “dignity” often came with more specific complaints around meager pensions, low wages, tremendous inequities ...Missing: grievances underlying
  16. [16]
    Chile protests 2019: How a $0.04 metro fare hike sparked unrest | Vox
    Oct 29, 2019 · A 4 percent fare hike raising the price of a ride on the capital's metro system by 30 pesos, or about $0.04, ignited mass protests on October 18 that have yet ...
  17. [17]
    Chile students' mass fare-dodging expands into city-wide protest
    Oct 19, 2019 · Thousands jump barriers in response to metro fare rise as police use teargas on demonstrators decrying rising cost of living.
  18. [18]
    Chile protests: Unrest in Santiago over metro fare increase - BBC
    Oct 18, 2019 · A state of emergency has been declared in the Chilean capital, Santiago, after protests sparked by increased metro ticket prices turned violent.
  19. [19]
    The 2019 crisis in Chile: fundamental change needed, not just ...
    Aug 3, 2020 · Large crowds gathered in peaceful rallies to demand major changes to social protection policies including pensions, education, and health.
  20. [20]
    Chile's Failed Pensions Are Neoliberalism's Badge of Shame
    Aug 25, 2022 · Pensions became a leading cause for the millions of Chileans who took to the streets in protest in 2019, spurring the formation of a Constituent ...
  21. [21]
    Crippling student loans contribute to Chile's protests - France 24
    Nov 5, 2019 · A loan program known as CAE emerged, with bank loans to students guaranteed by the state, a financial device that has fuelled student anger ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  22. [22]
    Chile protests erupt from economic inequality under Pinera - Reuters
    Nov 21, 2019 · On Oct. 19, Pinera rolled back the subway fare increase, but Chileans remained unsatisfied and protests grew more violent, sometimes devolving ...
  23. [23]
    Chile protests: What prompted the unrest? | Sebastian Pinera News
    Oct 30, 2019 · Chileans are also frustrated with the increasing cost of living, low wages and pensions, a lack of education rights, a poor public health ...
  24. [24]
    'The Truth is, Chile is Unequal': What's Behind Chile's Protests
    Dec 18, 2019 · Social reforms may address some of the issues of insufficient pensions or lack of quality education, but it will take a while for them to have ...
  25. [25]
    How The Price Of The Metro Sparked Mass Protests In Chile - NPR
    Nov 8, 2019 · In early October, the Chilean government raised the price of the metro, triggering the largest protests in Chile's history.
  26. [26]
    Tres años del inicio de la semana de históricas evasiones masivas ...
    Oct 14, 2022 · Por Alejandro Baeza El 6 de octubre de 2019 comenzó a regir un alza de 30 pesos en el pasaje del metro de Santiago durante el denominado " ...
  27. [27]
    4 claves para entender la furia y el estallido social en el país ... - BBC
    Oct 23, 2019 · Las protestas y manifestaciones han sido lideradas, principalmente, por estudiantes. La primera "evasión masiva" fue el lunes 7 de octubre, ...Missing: fechas números
  28. [28]
    Estudiantes del Instituto Nacional realizaron evasión masiva al ...
    Oct 11, 2019 · Un grupo de más 80 estudiantes del Instituto Nacional realizó una evasión masiva al Metro, en protesta por el alza del pasaje en la Red ...
  29. [29]
    Evasión masiva de estudiantes por alza en pasajes obligó a cerrar ...
    Oct 14, 2019 · Evasión masiva de estudiantes por alza en pasajes obligó a cerrar cinco estaciones de Metro. 14 de Octubre de 2019 | 22:45 | Redactado por B.
  30. [30]
    Estudiantes evadieron en masa pasajes del Metro en protesta por ...
    Oct 15, 2019 · Estudiantes evadieron en masa pasajes del Metro en protesta por alza de tarifas: Cinco estaciones tuvieron que ser cerradas. Por CNN Chile.
  31. [31]
    Chile: students ambush metro stations in mass fare-dodging protest ...
    Oct 18, 2019 · ... Chilean capital, Santiago, has seen a significant roll-out of riot police after more than a week of mass fare evasion on the city's metro in ...
  32. [32]
    Chile protests: The students 'woke us up' - Al Jazeera
    Nov 29, 2019 · Secondary students kicked off more than a month of non-stop nationwide demonstrations when they organised mass fare evasion protests in Santiago.
  33. [33]
    así fue el estallido social del 18 de octubre de 2019 en Chile - EL PAÍS
    Oct 18, 2024 · Estudiantes se saltan los torniquetes de una estación del metro de Santiago en protesta del aumento de la tarifa. Esteban Felix (AP). 11:39 ...
  34. [34]
    Chile's protests and prospects
    Nov 5, 2019 · On 18 October alone, over 200 persons were taken into custody, and roughly 50 police officers were injured. Since the protests began, 4,300 ...Missing: burned | Show results with:burned
  35. [35]
    Chile's deadly weekend of fire as youth anger ignites - Reuters
    Oct 21, 2019 · In riots sparked by anger over fare hikes, masked and hooded protesters have torched buses, metro stations, supermarkets, banks and the high-rise headquarters ...
  36. [36]
    Chile protests: Cost of living protests take deadly toll - BBC
    Oct 21, 2019 · The number of people killed in violent protests against rising living costs in Chile has risen to 11, Santiago Governor Karla Rubilar said on Monday.
  37. [37]
    The 2019-2020 Chilean Protests – Praxis - Tufts University
    Feb 6, 2020 · Part I: Timeline of Events and Origins of the Protests. Chile recently experienced the largest earthquake in the country's recorded history ...
  38. [38]
    Chile's president declares state of emergency after riots over ... - CNN
    Oct 19, 2019 · Chile's president declares state of emergency after riots over metro fare hike. By Claudia Dominguez and Daniel Silva Fernandez, CNN. 2 min ...
  39. [39]
    Chile declares state of emergency amid student riots - DW
    Oct 19, 2019 · Chilean President Sebastian Pinera declared a state of emergency in parts of Santiago early Saturday morning after protesters started fires at subway stations ...
  40. [40]
    Chile President Pinera declares emergency as capital rocked by riots
    Oct 18, 2019 · Pinera spoke to the nation in the early hours of Saturday, declaring an emergency lockdown as sirens filled the night air downtown, and police ...
  41. [41]
    Chile President Declares State of Emergency After Violent Protests
    Oct 19, 2019 · Chile's president declared a state of emergency in Santiago Friday night and gave the military responsibility for security after a day of violent protests.<|separator|>
  42. [42]
    Chile's Pinera extends state of emergency, says 'we are at war'
    Oct 21, 2019 · Chile's government will extend a state of emergency to cities in its north and south, President Sebastian Pinera said late on Sunday, ...Missing: date | Show results with:date
  43. [43]
    What's behind Chile's protests - Atlantic Council
    Dec 9, 2019 · To quell the protests, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera declared a state of emergency on October 19 and deployed ten thousand troops who ...
  44. [44]
    Chile protests: state of emergency declared in Santiago as violence ...
    A bus burns down in downtown Santiago, on October 18, 2019, following a. 0:58. Chile: students ambush metro stations in mass fare-dodging protest over price ...
  45. [45]
    Chile: Respect Rights in Protest Response - Human Rights Watch
    Oct 22, 2019 · On October 19, President Sebastian Piñera declared a state of emergency in several locations, restricting people's movements. “We are deeply ...
  46. [46]
    'We are at war': Chile's Pinera extends state of emergency
    Oct 21, 2019 · After an emergency meeting late on Sunday, President Sebastian Pinera defended his decision to call a state of emergency and deploy troops onto ...
  47. [47]
    Chile: Deliberate policy to injure protesters points to responsibility of ...
    Nov 21, 2019 · According to the national police, none of its officials has died, but some 1,600 have been injured, 105 of them seriously. The demonstrations in ...
  48. [48]
    Soldiers patrol Chilean capital after violent protests | News | Al Jazeera
    Oct 19, 2019 · The military presence was part of a state of emergency declared by President Sebastian Pinera in response to student-led protests on Friday ...Missing: troops | Show results with:troops
  49. [49]
    Chile protests: Curfew extended for sixth consecutive day as ... - CNN
    Oct 23, 2019 · The government deployed the military to put down the unrest – the first time since Gen. Augusto Pinochet's 17-year military dictatorship ended ...
  50. [50]
    After Fare Hike Stirs Violent Unrest in Chile, President Suspends It
    Oct 21, 2019 · The nearly 8,000 army troops deployed overnight in Santiago, Valparaíso and Concepción did not deter vandals and looters who ransacked and ...
  51. [51]
    Chile army declares curfew, president reverses fare hikes after unrest
    Oct 20, 2019 · The Chilean military declared a night-time curfew in the capital on Saturday and President Sebastian Pinera announced he would freeze an ...
  52. [52]
    In Chile, Protesters Continue To Defy The President And Military - NPR
    Oct 22, 2019 · Massive protests have continued over economic inequality in Chile this week, defying the president and security forces' efforts to restore calm.
  53. [53]
    Chile: Police Reforms Needed in the Wake of Protests
    Nov 26, 2019 · On October 18, Piñera declared a state of emergency in several locations, deploying the military to enforce it. The state of emergency, which ...
  54. [54]
    Eyes on Chile - Amnesty International
    Oct 14, 2020 · This report investigates 12 emblematic cases of death, torture and injuries caused by agents of Carabineros between 18 October and 30 November.
  55. [55]
    Chile president unveils reforms after protests – DW – 10/23/2019
    Oct 23, 2019 · In a speech at the presidential palace in Santiago, president Pinera said he would increase the universal basic pension by 20% and freeze ...Missing: 27 | Show results with:27
  56. [56]
    Chile unrest: 'These protests will last until Pinera resigns' - Al Jazeera
    Published On 25 Oct 201925 Oct 2019. Click here to share on social media ... package of reforms. His proposals include increasing the basic pension by 20 percent, and introducing a minimum wage of ...
  57. [57]
    Chilean president rocked by biggest protest yet – DW – 10/26/2019
    Oct 26, 2019 · At least 19 people have died in a week of protests across the country that spurred the government to declare a state of emergency and implement ...
  58. [58]
    Chile protests: President sacks whole cabinet after protests - BBC
    Oct 27, 2019 · Chile's President Sebastian Piñera has dismissed his whole cabinet in order to form a new government and introduce social reforms demanded by protesters.
  59. [59]
    We Will Make a New Chile - Jacobin
    Oct 28, 2019 · The government reversed the hike in transport fares and offered what he called a “new social agenda” with reforms to pensions, health care, and ...
  60. [60]
    Chile Protests: What's Behind Social Unrest in Santiago? | TIME
    Oct 25, 2019 · But the apology hasn't quelled the protests, which have so far led to at least 18 deaths. This the most violent unrest Chile has witnessed since ...Missing: estallido | Show results with:estallido
  61. [61]
    Chile protests: More than one million bring Santiago to a halt
    Oct 26, 2019 · Protesters, angry over inequality, demand President Pinera's resignation in biggest protests to hit capital in years.
  62. [62]
    Chile protests: One million join peaceful march for reform - BBC
    Oct 25, 2019 · An estimated one million people have joined a peaceful protest march in Chile's capital, calling on the government to tackle inequality.Missing: biggest | Show results with:biggest
  63. [63]
    One million Chileans march in Santiago, city grinds to halt | Reuters
    Oct 26, 2019 · Santiago Governor Karla Rubilar said a million people marched in the capital - more than five percent of the country's population. Protesters ...
  64. [64]
    Chile protests: Aerial footage of protest march - BBC
    Oct 26, 2019 · An estimated one million people peacefully marched in Santiago on Friday 25 October against inequality.
  65. [65]
    AGREEMENT FOR SOCIAL PEACE AND A NEW CONSTITUTION ...
    1. The parties that sign this agreement hereby give their guarantee of their commitment to the restoration of peace and public order in. Chile and their total ...
  66. [66]
    The 2020 Chilean Plebiscite: Overview, Citizen Engagement ... - CSIS
    Oct 5, 2020 · The Acuerdo por la Paz Social y la Nueva Constitución outlines not only the structure of the plebiscite, but the reason for the vote as well.
  67. [67]
    Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution (2019) (Annex)
    Oct 8, 2021 · 1. The parties that sign this agreement hereby give their guarantee of their commitment to the restoration of peace and public order in Chile ...
  68. [68]
    Chile's Constitutional Reform Process Rebooted
    Sep 4, 2022 · These eventually led to an agreement on 15 November 2019 – the so-called Agreement for Social Peace and the New Constitution – signed by party ...
  69. [69]
    [PDF] Chile at the Crossroads: From the 2019 Social Explosion to a New ...
    May 15, 2022 · The 2019 social explosion in Chile, driven by dissatisfaction, led to a referendum for a new constitution, with a convention elected in 2021.
  70. [70]
    Chilean Constitutional Convention: An Exercise for the Pluriverse
    Nov 5, 2024 · On November 15, 2019, most political parties signed the “Agreement for Social Peace and the New Constitution” (N15). The N15, negotiated ...
  71. [71]
    Path to a New Constitution in Chile: How the Unthinkable Became ...
    Nov 27, 2019 · The political parties that signed the agreement appointed a Technical Commission which is already working to transform the agreement into ...
  72. [72]
    Deepening Democracy? Promises and challenges of Chile's Road ...
    ... Chile signed on an agreement, called the Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution (Acuerdo por la Paz Social y la Nueva Constitución). This ...
  73. [73]
    A picture and its story - Chilean police officers set on fire by Molotov ...
    Nov 6, 2019 · Two police officers were engulfed in flames. They were helped by colleagues who used fire extinguishers and their hands to put out the fires.
  74. [74]
    Crónica de cinco saqueos y nueve muertos: estado de emergencia ...
    Oct 27, 2019 · A una semana de decretado el estado de emergencia, 329 locales comerciales habían sido saqueados en el país. CIPER recorrió cinco focos de ...
  75. [75]
    "Más de 1.200 saqueos y resaqueos": Cómo se levantan ...
    Nov 15, 2019 · Desde el comienzo de los disturbios la compañía explicó que "registra 34 supermercados incendiados, 128 locales saqueados, y más de mil ...
  76. [76]
    Comercio calcula las pérdidas por US$1.400 millones luego de ...
    Oct 26, 2019 · En tanto la Asociación de Supermercados estimó en 344 los locales saqueados y 34 completamente quemados. Este viernes Tottus pudo abrir 54 ...
  77. [77]
    Protestas en Chile: los saqueos que se registraron en Santiago en ...
    Oct 23, 2019 · De los 1.371 que hay en el país, 325 fueron saqueados, 31 fueron saqueados e incendiados y 6 registraron daños, según los últimos datos ...Missing: número | Show results with:número
  78. [78]
    The Santiago Metro as a Microcosm of Chile - NACLA
    Oct 30, 2019 · The popular outrage of the past week brought the system to a standstill for multiple days, inflicted damage on nearly 80 metro stations, and ...
  79. [79]
    [PDF] Report_Chile_2019_EN.pdf - ohchr
    Dec 11, 2019 · OHCHR carried out 60 interviews with members of the police force on duty and injured in the context of the protests, of were medical personnel ...
  80. [80]
    [PDF] POLICE VIOLENCE AND COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY DURING ...
    International human rights standards are unequivocal in stipulating that the use of force by law enforcement officials when policing demonstrations must be a ...
  81. [81]
    Fiscalía confirma 464 víctimas de trauma ocular y 30 fallecidos a 6 ...
    Oct 17, 2025 · Fiscalía confirma 464 víctimas de trauma ocular y 30 fallecidos a 6 años del estallido social. Asimismo, el documento del Ministerio Público ...
  82. [82]
    Ministerio Público registra 33 muertes durante el estallido social
    Feb 27, 2020 · De esas 33 muertes, según lo revelado por el diario El Mercurio, cuatro son indagadas por acción de agentes del Estado y las otras 29 en ...
  83. [83]
    INDH presentó cifras a cuatro años de crisis social de 2019
    Oct 18, 2023 · Según las querellas presentadas por el INDH, siete personas fallecieron por la acción de agentes del Estado. Del total de víctimas, 3.581 ...
  84. [84]
    UN human rights report cites 'multiple root causes' of deadly Chile ...
    Dec 13, 2019 · Citing the Ministry of Justice figures, the OHCHR report revealed that up to 10 December, nearly 5,000 people were injured, including nearly ...
  85. [85]
    IACHR Condemns the Excessive Use of Force during Social ...
    Dec 6, 2019 · The IACHR urged the Chilean authorities to investigate these acts of violence with due diligence, to identify and sanction those responsible for ...Missing: government | Show results with:government
  86. [86]
    ¿Cuánto le costó el 18-O al metro? US$ 255 millones - Radio Pauta
    Nov 12, 2021 · ¿Cuánto le costó el 18-O al metro? US$ 255 millones ... Los daños a 118 de las 136 estaciones, además de la destrucción de vías y trenes, ...
  87. [87]
    El costo que implicó rehabilitar toda la red del Metro tras el 18-O
    Oct 17, 2022 · De esta forma, los costos finales por la quema y los daños sufridos en la infraestructura del Metro de Santiago alcanzaron los US$ 255 millones.
  88. [88]
    Gobierno estimó en USD$ 1.400 millones los daños a ... - CPI
    Jan 16, 2020 · Gobierno estimó en USD$ 1.400 millones los daños a infraestructura tras el estallido social · Ex presidente chileno apuesta por las APP y la ...
  89. [89]
    'So much damage': Chile protests flare back up as reforms fall short
    Oct 29, 2019 · The continuing unrest in Chile follows a week of riots, arson and protests over inequality that have resulted in at least 18 dead and 7,000 ...
  90. [90]
    Chile: Protesters burn university, loot church – DW – 11/09/2019
    Nov 9, 2019 · The local university was set ablaze and a church was looted, with religious iconography burned in the street.<|separator|>
  91. [91]
    La Moneda recuerda que el estallido produjo una pérdida de US$ 3 ...
    Oct 18, 2021 · La Moneda recuerda que el estallido produjo una pérdida de US$ 3 mil millones, equivalente a un mes del IFE · 1. “La crisis de violencia y ...
  92. [92]
    ¿Cuánto le cuesta la crisis a Chile? – DW – 20/11/2019
    Nov 20, 2019 · La violencia, la destrucción y los saqueos en Chile no sólo han causado pérdidas inmediatas sino que inhibirán la inversión, estiman expertos.
  93. [93]
    The double impact of deep social unrest and a pandemic
    Household debt in Chile reached a value close to 41% of the GDP in 2019, a high value for a developing economy, especially if one takes into account the high ...
  94. [94]
    Chile GDP - Gross Domestic Product 2019 - countryeconomy.com
    Gross Domestic Product of Chile grew 0.6% in 2019 compared to last year. This rate is 34 -tenths of one percent less than the figure of 4% published in 2018 ...
  95. [95]
    Working Papers N° 883: Twitter-Based Economic Policy Uncertainty ...
    In this paper, we develop a daily-frequency measure of economic uncertainty for Chile employing information that was obtained from Twitter accounts.
  96. [96]
    Chile First impacts of protests uncertainty remains - Allianz Trade
    The good news is that exports recovered (+2.9% q/q after -1.6% in Q2); the bad news is that investment slowed (+1.4% q/q after +3.2% in Q2).
  97. [97]
    Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) - Chile | Data
    Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$) - Chile ... 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 ...
  98. [98]
    Policy changes and growth slowdown: assessing Chile's lost decade
    Oct 9, 2025 · Chile has experienced weak economic growth, political volatility, and protests since at least the mid-2010s, and more acutely since 2019.<|separator|>
  99. [99]
    GDP growth (annual %) - Chile - World Bank Open Data
    GDP growth (annual %) - Chile. Country official statistics, National Statistical Organizations and/or Central Banks; National Accounts data files.
  100. [100]
    Chile's president tries to quell unrest - The Economist
    Oct 31, 2019 · Mr Piñera's own approval rating dropped last week from 29% to 14%, an all-time low for a president in the democratic era, according to Cadem, ...
  101. [101]
    Protests, looting erupt in Chile despite new Cabinet - DW
    Oct 29, 2019 · Cadem's poll showed Pinera's approval rating at a mere 14%, the lowest figure for a Chilean president since the return to democracy. Although ...
  102. [102]
    Over a million protesters demand Chile president's resignation
    Oct 26, 2019 · More than one million people took to the streets in Chile Friday for the largest protests in a week of deadly demonstrations demanding economic reforms.
  103. [103]
    Chile's Pinera faces new protests after firing ministers - Al Jazeera
    Oct 29, 2019 · Pinera's concessions have so far failed to ease public anger, with many protesters demanding he resign.Missing: initial | Show results with:initial
  104. [104]
    Chile Pinera faces new protests after firing ministers, courting ...
    Oct 28, 2019 · A Cadem poll published on Sunday found 80% of Chileans did not find Pinera's proposals adequate, which he acknowledged in his speech on Monday.
  105. [105]
    Chile agrees to hold referendum on constitution: 5 things to know
    Nov 15, 2019 · But ruling alliance and opposition political forces presented a 12-point “Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution” on Friday, which ...
  106. [106]
    Chile's Congress agrees to reform constitution after weeks of protests
    Nov 15, 2019 · Chile's Congress has reached an agreement to reform the country's constitution in an effort to restore peace after weeks of violent protests.Missing: Acuerdo Paz Constitución
  107. [107]
    'The constitution of the dictatorship has died': Chile agrees deal on ...
    Nov 15, 2019 · The latest poll from Cadem asserted that 78% of Chileans wanted a new constitution, while a constitutional assembly was the most popular ...
  108. [108]
    Chile's President Says He Will Support a New Constitution
    Nov 18, 2019 · The demand for a new Constitution has been a recurring theme throughout the protests, which were set off by a 4 cent hike in the subway fare, ...
  109. [109]
    [PDF] Acuerdo Por la Paz Social y la Nueva Constitución
    1. Los partidos que suscriben este acuerdo vienen a garantizar su compromiso con el restablecimiento de la paz y el orden público en Chile y el total respeto ...Missing: protests path constitutional
  110. [110]
    In Win for Protesters, Chile to Vote on Replacing Constitution
    Nov 15, 2019 · The two-page “Agreement for Peace and a New Constitution,” signed after midnight following intense negotiations, calls for a “commitment to re- ...
  111. [111]
    Chile's Constitutional Moment | Current History - UC Press Journals
    Feb 1, 2021 · Governing and opposition parties reached a “12-Point Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution” on November 15, 2019.
  112. [112]
    Chile's Constitutional Turning Point
    Apr 1, 2021 · On November 15, 2019, reluctant governing parties and the opposition came to a Twelve Point Agreement for Social Peace and a New Constitution.Missing: details | Show results with:details<|separator|>
  113. [113]
    The Constitutional Process in Chile - Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik
    Apr 6, 2020 · On 15 November 2019, ten ... Comunes, PDC, PL, PPD, PR, PS, RD, RN, UDI) signed an “Agreement for Social Peace and the New Constitution”.Missing: details | Show results with:details
  114. [114]
    Acuerdo Por la Paz Social y la Nueva Constitución - BCN
    El órgano constituyente elegido por la ciudadanía tendrá como único fin redactar la nueva Carta Fundamental, sin afectar las competencias y ...
  115. [115]
    National Plebiscite in Chile: Voters approve drawing up a new ...
    Nov 2, 2020 · Chileans decided to draw up a new constitution, by the future election of a citizen constitutional convention. What are the next steps for this constitutional ...
  116. [116]
    Chile: Situation Report – May 2021 - ReliefWeb
    Jul 2, 2021 · On 15 and 16 May, Chile held elections for Constitutional Convention delegates, regional governors, mayors, and municipal council members.
  117. [117]
    Chile Elects its Constitution-Making Body: The Potential and Risks of ...
    May 31, 2021 · Voters have by and large rejected establishment parties, electing a majority left and left-leaning Constitutional Convention. But this apparent ...
  118. [118]
    Chile's Constitutional Convention Decides its Rules of Procedure
    Sep 25, 2021 · The rules of procedure are expected to define the thematic committees, voting procedures, and participatory mechanisms at the Convention, among ...<|separator|>
  119. [119]
    Chile overwhelmingly rejects progressive new constitution - Reuters
    Sep 5, 2022 · Chileans overwhelmingly voted against a proposed new constitution on Sunday, rejecting what would have been one of the world's most ...
  120. [120]
    Chilean Referendum 2022 - IFES Election Guide
    Sep 4, 2022 · Referendum Vote Share. Do you approve the text of the New Constitution proposed by the Constitutional Convention? REJECT7,882,958. 61.86.
  121. [121]
    Chile votes overwhelmingly to reject new, progressive constitution
    Sep 4, 2022 · With 96% of the ballots counted, the rejection camp has 62% and the approve team accept defeat in bid to replace Pinochet-era settlement.
  122. [122]
    Why we failed to approve the new Chilean constitution - LSE Blogs
    Sep 15, 2022 · On 4 September, Chile voted to reject a new constitution to replace the current one, which was written under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.
  123. [123]
    Why Did Chileans Reject the Draft Constitution?
    Sep 8, 2022 · The majority of Chileans voted against the proposed new constitution. How can we interpret the "no" vote's significant victory?
  124. [124]
    Why Chileans rejected new constitution proposals – DW – 12/19/2023
    Dec 19, 2023 · Despite demanding a new constitution in 2020, the Chilean electorate has since rejected two proposals to replace the current one that dates back to Augusto ...
  125. [125]
    Why did Chileans Reject the New Constitution?
    Sep 19, 2022 · Eighty percent of voters decided to elect members of a Constitutional Convention to draft a new Constitution for Chile, one that would replace ...
  126. [126]
    The Chilean Pendulum: Perspectives after Chile's Constitutional ...
    Sep 13, 2022 · The triumph of the “reject” vote in the September 4 referendum on the text of Chile's envisaged new constitution opens up another phase in ...
  127. [127]
    Chile sees high turnout in vote on proposed new constitution ... - PBS
    Sep 4, 2022 · Chileans voted in a plebiscite Sunday on whether to adopt a far-reaching new constitution that would fundamentally change the South American country.
  128. [128]
    Why Chileans rejected conservative constitution, and what's next?
    Dec 18, 2023 · Another vote on a new constitution seems highly unlikely at least until 2025 as the leftist President Gabriel Boric wants to focus on policy ...
  129. [129]
    [PDF] CHILE OPINION ON THE DRAFT CONSTITUTIONAL ...
    Jun 16, 2025 · 2 This resulted in another draft text and another referendum which was held on 17. December 2023. The second constituent process rejected the ...
  130. [130]
    12 Core Attributes of the Chilean Constitutional Proposal
    Dec 15, 2023 · Article 5 in the 2023 proposal asserts that the Chilean nation is one and indivisible, with native peoples being an integral part of it. It also ...
  131. [131]
    Chile's conservatives win most seats on constitution rewrite body
    May 8, 2023 · After a failed progressive majority rewrite, a collection of right-wing parties will now draft a new constitution.
  132. [132]
    Chile's far-right party wins most seats on constitutional rewrite ...
    May 8, 2023 · Chile's far-right Republican Party finished in first place Sunday in a nationwide vote to choose the 50 members of a committee that will draft a replacement.
  133. [133]
    Chile 2023 Constitution - Constitute Project
    The State of Chile is social and democratic governed by the rule of law, that recognizes the fundamental rights and freedoms, constitutional duties, ...
  134. [134]
    Chileans reject conservative constitution to replace dictatorship-era ...
    Dec 18, 2023 · With 99.65% of ballot boxes tallied, a total of 55.76% Chileans rejected the new text while 44.24% voted in favor of it. The Reuters Tariff ...
  135. [135]
    Chile protesters move off streets amid coronavirus outbreak
    Mar 18, 2020 · Street protests paused as gov't declares state of catastrophe, but movement continues with pots and pans, other methods.
  136. [136]
    [PDF] Chile: entre el estallido social y la pandemia - Fundación Carolina
    Apr 14, 2020 · La llegada de la COVID-19 a Chile con un primer caso detectado el 3 de marzo de 2020 pareció una extensión de la crisis social y política vivida ...
  137. [137]
    Chilean police forces repress protests with COVID-19 regulations
    Jun 29, 2020 · Although the sanitary emergency halted the wave of mass protests in Chile, sporadic protests have continued through roadblocks and cacerolazos ( ...
  138. [138]
    Coronavirus en Chile: las imágenes de las protestas en Santiago ...
    May 19, 2020 · Residentes de una las zonas más pobres de Santiago de Chile salieron a la calle a protestar por su falta de acceso a alimentos, ...
  139. [139]
    claves para entender la triple crisis del país en medio de la pandemia
    May 22, 2020 · "Estamos pasando hambre": las imágenes de las protestas por la difícil situación económica creada en Chile por la pandemia de covid-19. 19 mayo ...
  140. [140]
    Protests in Chile amid COVID-19 - Anadolu Ajansı
    SANTIAGO, CHILE - APRIL 27: Demonstrators clash with the security forces during a protest against the President Sebastian Pinera's government and the change ...
  141. [141]
    La política chilena en tiempos de pandemia - Nueva Sociedad
    May 9, 2020 · El 1 de marzo se llevó a cabo una masiva movilización de ciclistas a favor de una nueva Constitución; en diversas ocasiones, el metro de ...
  142. [142]
    Chile: pandemic highlights health crisis as lockdown halts inequality ...
    May 5, 2020 · Coronavirus arrives against backdrop of unresolved social tensions that fueled last year's explosion of protests.
  143. [143]
    Full article: Chile's perfect storm: social upheaval, COVID-19 and the ...
    The immediate trigger was an increase in public transport fares in Santiago, but the motives of the protests went far beyond that: for some it was the abuses of ...
  144. [144]
    The Chilean police punish us for daring to protest
    Oct 15, 2020 · Through the social demonstrations that began on 18 October 2019, we sought to change a system based on inequality. The protests started due ...
  145. [145]
    Chile police using Covid-19 quarantine as pretext to crush protest ...
    Aug 26, 2020 · The human rights violations in turn drove new unrest – and activists say they have continued under the guise of enforcing pandemic orders.
  146. [146]
    Chile en las barricadas | The New Yorker
    Oct 5, 2020 · A finales de junio, más de doscientos setenta y cinco mil chilenos habían dado positivo en las pruebas de COVID-19, y el virus se había cobrado ...
  147. [147]
    Political unrest in Chile
    The onset of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 halted economic activity and forced protesters off the streets and into their homes. When the movement ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  148. [148]
    Chile election divides voters between protest and order | Reuters
    Nov 20, 2021 · ... 2019, two years of sometimes-violent protests have made many voters wary. That - combined with a widespread perception among Chileans that ...
  149. [149]
    More Polarized Than Ever, Presidential Election in Chile Marks New ...
    Nov 22, 2021 · Yet the country made global headlines in 2019 when months of mass protests and political upheaval, caused by discontent about inequality and ...
  150. [150]
    Gabriel Boric wins Chile's presidential election - Al Jazeera
    Dec 20, 2021 · A left-wing legislator who rose to prominence during anti-government protests in Chile has been elected the country's next president.
  151. [151]
    Leftist Gabriel Boric, 35, wins Chile's presidential election | CNN
    Dec 20, 2021 · Leftist and former student leader Gabriel Boric, 35, will become Chile's youngest President after he won a presidential runoff election on ...
  152. [152]
    Gabriel Boric: From student protest leader to Chile's president - BBC
    Dec 20, 2021 · When Mr Boric won the candidacy of his leftist bloc to run for president, he made a bold pledge. "If Chile was the cradle of neoliberalism, it ...
  153. [153]
    [PDF] Unorganized Politics: The Political Aftermath of Social Unrest in Chile
    The Chilean unrest that began on October 18, 2019, the erosion of legitimacy of established party organizations, and an electoral reform that lowered legal ...<|separator|>
  154. [154]
    Chile: in search of a consensus for reform
    Mass protests in Chile in 2019 paved the way for Gabriel Boric's leftwing government to come to power. But with his time as president almost up, ...Missing: impact | Show results with:impact<|separator|>
  155. [155]
    World Report 2023: Chile | Human Rights Watch
    As of October, political parties were in negotiations to initiate a new constituent process. Both the presidential election and the constitutional process ...
  156. [156]
    Chile's right gains against Boric government in less polarizing ...
    Oct 28, 2024 · Chile's moderate right made gains in regional elections on Sunday while President Gabriel Boric's coalition avoided crushing defeat, ...
  157. [157]
    Time runs short for Chile's activist-turned-president to fulfill the ...
    foreshadowing ...Missing: impact | Show results with:impact
  158. [158]
    Social Movements After the Failure of the Constituent Process in Chile
    Jul 15, 2024 · In October 2019, Chile experienced the beginning of the largest mobilizations in its contemporary history. There were many assessments by ...
  159. [159]
    Does electoral behavior change after a protest cycle? Evidence from ...
    This paper investigates the relationship between protests and elections, specifically examining two pivotal protest cycles in Chile and Bolivia during 2019, and ...
  160. [160]
    Gabriel Boric's Unlikely Legacy - Americas Quarterly
    Sep 16, 2024 · For now, Boric's approval ratings are inching past the 30% that has endured for most of his tenure. The narrative of his political arc ...
  161. [161]
    Can Chile's 2025 election overcome unrest and reform failures?
    Jul 31, 2025 · Chile faces its 2025 election after failed constitutional reforms, a pension overhaul, and rising crime.
  162. [162]
    Chile Gears Up for Yet Another 'Change Election'
    Sep 29, 2025 · Despite demands to overhaul Chile's political system, no direction for change has emerged, nor is one likely after upcoming elections.Missing: instability | Show results with:instability
  163. [163]
    'Security Crisis' Radicalizes Public Opinion in Chile - InSight Crime
    Dec 8, 2023 · According to the CEP, 70% of those surveyed believe that migrants increase crime rates in the country. Nearly 75% of respondents said that they ...Missing: 2019 estallido<|separator|>
  164. [164]
    Four years on from the social unrest in Chile, impunity persists
    Oct 17, 2023 · Four years on from the repressive police response to the social protests and victims have yet to receive full reparations, no progress has been made in the ...
  165. [165]
    5 years after massive protests in Chile, what's left of the desire for ...
    Oct 20, 2024 · Overnight, metro stations were torched and supermarkets looted while bewildered commentators struggled to make sense of what was happening in ...Missing: burned | Show results with:burned
  166. [166]
    Chile: An Overview | Congress.gov
    Oct 15, 2024 · Chile's finance ministry forecasts GDP growth of 2.6% in 2024 and 2.7% in 2025, driven, in part, by mining sector investments and rising real ...Missing: instability | Show results with:instability
  167. [167]
  168. [168]
    [PDF] Social Gaps, Perceived Inequality and Protests
    The paper finds that a "social gap" index, measuring the disconnect between objective and perceived social status, predicts protest involvement.Missing: debate | Show results with:debate<|separator|>
  169. [169]
    Piñera: el estallido social de 2019 en Chile “fue un golpe de Estado ...
    Sep 22, 2023 · Piñera dijo que “efectivamente fue un golpe de Estado no tradicional, porque no fueron las Fuerzas Armadas”, que buscó “debilitar las bases ...
  170. [170]
    Social Crisis in Chile 2019: Review of Two Hypotheses as to its Cause
    Massive protests, looting, vandalism and arson suddenly occurred, culminating in the declaration of a state of emergency, a situation that had not emerged in ...
  171. [171]
    Chile unrest: Promised reforms fail to quell protests, strike - Al Jazeera
    Oct 23, 2019 · Pinera's proposed reforms include a guaranteed minimum wage, an increase in the state pension and the stabilisation of electricity costs.
  172. [172]
    Chile's Failed Constitution: Democracy Wins
    Chilean voters overwhelmingly rejected a draft constitution that did not reflect their values. They have spoken clearly: They want a new charter…Missing: draft backlash impact
  173. [173]
    George Floyd protests spark memories of deadly Chile protests
    Jun 15, 2020 · At least 31 civilians died in the Chilean protests, which continued through 2019, authorities say, mostly perishing in shooting incidents or ...<|separator|>
  174. [174]
    Chile security forces' crackdown leaves toll of death and broken ...
    Nov 25, 2019 · At least 23 people have been killed in anti-government protests and 2,300 injured, with scores blinded by non-lethal projectiles.
  175. [175]
    Chile's Ephemeral October Revolution - Americas Quarterly
    Oct 17, 2024 · A few years later, student protests, and President Michelle Bachelet's measures to respond to them—including higher taxes and education reform— ...
  176. [176]
    Social Media Use and Pathways to Protest Participation: Evidence From the 2019 Chilean Social Outburst - Andrés Scherman, Sebastian Rivera, 2021
    ### Summary of Findings on Social Media Use and Protest Participation in the 2019 Chilean Social Outburst
  177. [177]
    Human Rights Crisis in Chile: A Digital Inquiry
    But the Chilean government contradicted protestors' account of events. What was the truth? This question informs the content of this report by comparing and ...
  178. [178]
    [PDF] Social Media and Activism in the 2019/2020 Chilean Social ...
    Oct 20, 2019 · A specific example of social media users countering misinformation during these 2019/2020 demonstrations is in regard to the villainizing of ...
  179. [179]
    Social protest in Chile leads to creation of fact-checking media
    Nov 24, 2020 · Social protest and crisis of traditional media in Chile leads to creation of alternative media and fact-checking outlets.Missing: details | Show results with:details
  180. [180]
    Rethinking the Protest Paradigm: Media Kettling in the Television ...
    Jan 6, 2025 · We advance these discussions by analyzing 361 reports on the 2019 Chilean uprising aired on both a private and a public broadcasting station, using television ...
  181. [181]
    TV and newspapers' coverage of the 2019 protests in Colombia and ...
    Oct 18, 2023 · Results show that Chilean media used the riot frame (37.5%, N = 150) more frequently than the Colombian media (17%, N = 68; χ2 = 42.397, df = 1, ...
  182. [182]
    [PDF] Chilean Media Audiences' Claims for Dignity
    Feb 7, 2023 · Chile's largest social uprising in 30 years began in October 2019. Protests erupted throughout the country, inspired by a widespread belief ...
  183. [183]
    During the 2019 Chilean Protests, the Walls of Santiago Dreamed of ...
    Aug 27, 2023 · The authors consider the influence of certain movements of the so-called historical avant-garde (i.e., futurism, expressionism, Dada, and ...
  184. [184]
    [PDF] AN ANALYSIS OF THE RADICAL FLANK EFFECT IN THE CASE OF ...
    Jan 30, 2023 · This paper applies the previously established RFE research framework in the case study of El Estallido Social (the Social Outbreak) in Chile to.<|separator|>
  185. [185]
    Chile protesters: 'We are subjugated by the rich. It's time for that to end'
    Oct 30, 2019 · The leaderless movement has forced the billionaire president, Sebastián Piñera, on the defensive, prompting him to replace eight ministers and ...
  186. [186]
  187. [187]
    Societal Protest, Care, and Solidarity in Post-18O Chile
    Feb 14, 2024 · Social justice protests that began on 18 October 2019 in Chile were greeted enthusiastically around the globe. The mobilisation 'woke up' ...
  188. [188]
    Chile: UN experts call for justice and accountability for human rights ...
    Nov 27, 2023 · Chilean authorities must take urgent steps to ensure justice and full reparations for victims who suffered serious human rights violations during the 2019-2020 ...