Hundreds Protest Kast's Security Reform at Plaza Italia, Compare It to Pinochet-Era Powers

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at Plaza Italia in downtown Santiago on September 3, chanting that President Kast is 'just like Pinochet' over his constitutional security reform, which would let the president declare up to eight-month states of emergency — restricting movement, assembly and communications — without prior congressional authorization. Carabineros fired tear gas and used water cannon to disperse the crowd. A 22-year-old student protester told reporters Kast 'is giving himself powers that a president in a democracy shouldn't have.' The protest coincided with the opening of the Foro Madrid far-right summit in Santiago, which Kast co-hosted with Javier Milei.