Chilean President Pinera calls for cabinet reshuffle amid protests

Chilean President Pinera calls for cabinet reshuffle amid protests
Chilean President Pinera calls for cabinet reshuffle amid protests

Chilean PresidentSebastian Pinera called for a major cabinet reshuffle on Saturday in a bid toquell a week of mass protests against inequality that have rocked the SouthAmerican nation.

His announcementfollows a peaceful rally late Friday that saw one million Chileans flood thestreets to call for reforms to the country´s economic model.

"I have putall my ministers on notice in order to restructure my cabinet to confront thesenew demands," Pinera told reporters from the La Moneda presidentialpalace.

Protests in Chilebegan over a hike in subway fares more than a week ago but boiled into riotsthat have killed at least 17 people, resulted in more than 7,000 arrests andcaused more than $1.4 billion of losses to Chilean businesses.

Pinera earlier inthe week had declared a state of emergency across much of Chile, placing themilitary in charge of security in Santiago and other cities and saying thecountry was "at war" against vandals.

The move sparkedoutrage among many in Chile, who said his words and actions harkened back tothe grim era of military rule under dictator Augusto Pinochet.

Speaking withreporters Saturday morning, Pinera said he would soon lift the state ofemergency Sunday evening as violence and looting has begun to subside.Pinera this week called for a new "social pact," promising toboost the minimum wage and pensions, ditch fare hikes on public transportationand fix the country's ailing health care system

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