SANTIAGO — Once again, Chilean students have taken to the streets to protest the…
Anti-discrimination Law Approved in Chile
SANTIAGO — An Anti-discrimination Law was approved last Wednesday night by the Senate, after seven years of discussion in the Chilean Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The project still needs to be analyzed by the Constitutional Tribunal, which will verify if the law is in accordance with the constitution. This is the last step before [...]
President Piñera Hands Over 1,500 Certificates of Ownership in Rancagua
SANTIAGO — Last weekend President Sebastián Piñera accompanied by the Minister of National Patrimony, Catalina Parot Donoso, traveled to Rancagua to hand out 1,500 certificates of ownership to people living in the region of O’Higgins. Among them were 700 beneficiary of the express regulation program. The President of the Republic stressed that although this initiative [...]
President Piñera Commits to Ending the Lack of Digital Knowledge
SANTIAGO – During President Sebastián Piñera’s visit to Rancagua last Friday, he handed out new computers to students of the Moisés Mussa School as part of the “One PC for Every Tenth Student” program. President Piñera also participated in the inauguration of computer laboratory at the school. He concentrated his speech on the importance of reducing [...]
President Piñera Hands out First Voucher for School Achievement
SANTIAGO — President Sebastián Piñera and the Minister for Social Development, Joaquín Lavín, met with the mother of Brígida and Dorca Tapia, Miss Mará Angélica Ramírez. Ramírez, from the municipality of San Bernardo, is the first person to receive a financial reward from the government voucher for school achievement. This voucher is part of the [...]
Controversy Around an “Ethical” Minimum Wage in Chile
SANTIAGO — The protests on “El Día del Trabajador” in Chile raised a discussion about the necessity of increasing the national minimum wage. The amount is currently set at around US$375 per month. The Central Workers Union (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores, CUT) demands that the minimum wage be increased to US$515. According to the president [...]
Minister Larroulet Defends Tax Reforms
SANTIAGO — Cristián Larroulet, Ministry General Secretary of the Presidency, said about the Chilean government’s new tax reforms, “They seek to relieve people’s worries and reward saving, effort, and entrepreneurship. Also, it puts money into education because that is the most important thing for a free and fair society.” Yesterday morning, the Secretary of State was [...]
Mixed Reactions to Tax Reform Proposals
SANTIAGO –Reactions have been mixed towards tax reform proposals recently announced by President Sebastián Piñera. Both support and criticism began immediately after the president’s speech, after students held a massive protest over high education costs in Chile. Proposing an increase in corporate tax from 17 to 20 percent, Piñera promised, “One hundred percent of the [...]
U.S. Defense Secretary Seeks to Strengthen Partnership with Chile
SANTIAGO – As the United States defense budget continues to tighten, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta seeks to strengthen partnerships with South American alliances. Before his arrival in Chile, Panetta met with counterparts and military officials in Colombia and Brazil to discuss an expansion of defense and security cooperation. At a press conference yesterday [...]
Tax Reform Project will be Announced Today
SANTIAGO – Around 9 p.m. tonight President Sebastián Piñera will present on television the project of tax reform that is supposed to raise resources to fund changes in education and health care. The expectation of the government is that the reform can increase tax revenues to account for around 0.3% of Chile’s GDP. This morning, [...]
Chilean Court Opens Pinochet’s Will
SANTIAGO – At 9:10 this morning, the Third Civil Court of Santiago opened the will of General Augusto Pinochet, a move that has been labelled “political persecution” by his daughter Lucía. The opening of the will was requested by the defence council of the state. It aims to examine his personal wealth, now that of [...]