On October 22, President Piñera presented his New Social Agenda, which sets out a series of measures aimed at benefiting disadvantaged sectors, the middle class and older adults. This comes after the eruption of severe social unrest following a rise in subway fares in Santiago which has led to vandalism, looting and arson attacks.

Of the measures included in Piñera’s Social Agenda, especially noteworthy are ones relating to pensions, health and medicines, a minimum guaranteed income of $350,000 Chilean pesos (USD 524), taxes on higher salaries, reduction of taxes for the elderly and greater equity between communes. However, the concessions have not succeeded in stopping the protests so far. 

The conflict began on October 6, when the state-owned Santiago Metro company increased the price of the rush-hour ticket from 800 to 830 Chilean pesos (from USD 1.10 to USD 1.15). This resulted in students calling on citizens to “evade payment” of tickets as a protest against the raise. 

Last week the unrest escalated, prompting President Piñera to declare a state of emergency at midnight October 18 and deploying the army to restore order. Then, on October 19, the Executive branch submitted a bill to Congress to backtrack on the fare hike, which was sanctioned on October 21. 

Although the conflict was triggered by the fare increase, protesters’ grievances are rooted in what they see as stark social and economic inequalities in employment, health, pensions and education among other sectors. That is why, faced with the threat of an escalation of the protests, Piñera met on the afternoon of October 22 with opposition leaders to set out a joint plan to resolve the crisis. Thus, the different parties arrived at an agreement that translates into the Social Agenda presented by the Government.