Chile's young, leftist incoming president shuns conventions. But will that include showing his large tattoos?
Gabriel Boric has always shunned conventions. And the woman who inked the three elaborate designs that fill Boric's arms and back is hoping that extends to his displaying her creations.
cbsnews.comLeftist millennial wins election as Chile's next president
Chile Election Presidential candidate Gabriel Boric, of the "I approve Dignity" coalition, waves to supporters at a polling station during the presidential run-off election in Punta Arenas, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Andres Poblete) (Andres Poblete)SANTIAGO, Chile — (AP) — A leftist millennial who rose to prominence during anti-government protests was elected Chile’s next president Sunday after a bruising campaign against a free-market firebrand likened to Donald Trump. Outgoing President Sebastian Pinera held a video conference call with Boric to congratulate him. “I am going to be the president of all Chileans,” Boric said in the brief televised appearance with Pinera. Boric, 35, will become Chile’s youngest modern president when he takes office in March.
wftv.comEx-protest leader well ahead in Chile's presidential vote
Chile Election A man holds his daughter as she casts his vote at a polling station during the presidential run-off election in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) (Matias Delacroix)SANTIAGO, Chile — (AP) — A millennial former student protest leader looked headed to victory in Chile's presidential runoff Sunday following a bruising campaign pitting him against a free-market firebrand likened to Donald Trump. That set up a head-to-head runoff against Boric, who finished two points behind. If Boric's lead held, he would be the first candidate elected president after losing the first round. A longtime lawmaker, he has a record of attacking Chile's LGBTQ community and advocating more restrictive abortion laws.
wftv.comEarly results favor ex-protest leader for Chile's presidency
SANTIAGO, Chile — (AP) — A millennial former student protest leader took an early lead Sunday in Chile's presidential runoff following a bruising campaign pitting him against a free-market firebrand likened to Donald Trump. That set up a head-to-head runoff against Boric, who finished two points behind. Since the return of democracy three decades ago, no candidate leading after the first round has ever been defeated in the runoff. But no president has ever been elected without winning in the capital, Santiago, which Boric carried comfortably in the first round. A longtime lawmaker, he has a record of attacking Chile's LGBTQ community and advocating more restrictive abortion laws.
wftv.comFear of extremes driving voters in Chile presidential runoff
Chile Election A man enters to vote at a polling station holding his bicycle during the presidential run-off election in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. That set up a head-to-head runoff against Gabriel Boric, who trailed him by about two percentage points. Since the return of democracy three decades ago, no candidate leading after the first round has ever been defeated in the runoff. But no president has ever been elected without winning in the capital, Santiago, which Boric carried comfortably in the first round. “Turnout will mean everything,” said Robert Funk, a political scientist at the University of Chile.
wftv.comFear of extremes driving voters in Chile presidential runoff
Chile Election Electoral workers prepare a school to be a polling station for the presidential run-off election in Santiago, Chile, Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. Chile will hold a presidential run-off election on Dec. 19. That set up a head-to-head runoff against Gabriel Boric, who trailed him by about two percentage points. Since the return of democracy three decades ago, no candidate leading after the first round has ever been defeated in the runoff. But no president has ever been elected without winning in the capital, Santiago, which Boric carried comfortably in the first round.
wftv.comFar-right lawmaker, ex-protester to meet in Chilean runoff
Chile Presidential Election A nun walks to cast her ballot at a polling station during presidential elections in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. José Antonio Kast, a far-right lawmaker who has a history of defending Chile’s military dictatorship, finished first with 28% of the vote compared to 25% for former student protest leader Gabriel Boric. Outgoing President Sebastian Pinera congratulated the two top finishers after more than 80% of polling stations reported results. Two outsider candidates hailing from opposite extremes of the political spectrum look headed to a runoff in Chile’s presidential election following a bruising campaign that laid bare deep social tensions in the region’s most economically advanced country. If no candidate secures a 50% majority, the two top finishers will compete in a Dec. 19 runoff.
wftv.comOutsiders take early lead in Chilean presidential election
APTOPIX Chile Presidential Election People reflected on a ballot box wait their turn to vote during presidential elections in Santiago, Chile, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix) (Esteban Felix)SANTIAGO, Chile — (AP) — Two outsider candidates hailing from opposite extremes of the political spectrum took an early lead in Chile’s presidential election Sunday following a bruising campaign that laid bare deep social tensions in the region’s most economically advanced country. A candidate who ran virtually from the U.S. without stepping foot in Chile led the pack of five other candidates trailing far behind. If no candidate secures a 50% majority, the two top finishers will compete in a Dec. 19 runoff. Pre-election polls point to a large number of undecided voters but consistently have favored Boric and Kast.
wftv.comChileans vote in highly polarized presidential election
But neither is expected to garner enough support to cross the 50% threshold required to avoid a runoff vote next month. Within striking distance of the two frontrunners are center-right candidate Sebastián Sichel and center-left former Education Minister Yasna Provoste. Also up for grabs is Chile's entire 155-seat lower house of Congress and about half the Senate. He was among several student activists elected to Congress in 2014 after leading protests for higher quality education. In May, the assembly charged with drafting the new magna carta was elected and is expected to conclude its work sometime next year.
wftv.comFar-right lawmaker, ex-protester to meet in Chilean runoff
Two onetime outsiders hailing from opposite extremes of the political spectrum have received the most votes in Chile’s presidential election but have failed to garner enough support for an outright win, setting up what’s likely to be polarizing runoff in the region’s most advanced economy.
In uncertain times, Chileans vote with ballots and wallets
SANTIAGO, Chile — (AP) — Miguel Torres is the archetype of what might be called the Chilean dream. “But I’m not going to leave what little money I have here.”Torres isn't the only Chilean on edge. In the runup to the vote, Chileans like Torres have been voting with their wallets, opening dollar-denominated bank accounts and shuttling their savings abroad in the time-tested manner of their neighbors in Argentina. "For Chileans with capital, there’s no roadmap to navigate uncertainty.”Reflecting Chile's recent upheaval, and South America's increasingly polarized politics, the two main candidates are a study in contrasts. Sergio Bitar, who served in the socialist administration of Salvador Allende that was overthrown by Pinochet as well as several center-left governments since, said the myth of the Chilean “economic miracle” died long ago.
wftv.comThe end approaches for Chile's military-era constitution
Constitutions are pretty formulaic,” said the professor, David Law of the University of Hong Kong. A more inclusive country and the erasure of a much-amended relic of military rule, the 1980 constitution. Law, the Hong Kong professor, said South Africa's constitution “in particular is pushed as an example for every Global South/transitional/developing country out there. Not so clear.″Approved after the 1994 end of white racist rule, the South African constitution drew from codes in Germany, Canada, India, Namibia and elsewhere. “This is not a good analogy, but ask yourself how much constraint the U.S. Constitution would have imposed on Trump if Trump had final say over the meaning of the Constitution," Law said.
British lawyer Karim Khan elected next ICC prosecutor
-FILE- In this Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020, file photo the sun bounces off the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)THE HAGUE – More than 120 countries elected British lawyer Karim Khan on Friday as the next prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, one of the toughest jobs in international law because the tribunal seeks justice for the world’s worst atrocities -- war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. Khan, who has specialized in international criminal law and international human rights law, was widely seen as the favorite to get the job. He has worked as a prosecutor at the tribunal prosecuting war crimes in former Yugoslavia and crimes against humanity and genocide in Rwanda. Khan is no stranger to the International Criminal Court, known as the ICC, having acted as a defense lawyer for Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto and persuading judges to throw out prosecution charges against his client.
Eager for change, Chile faces long road to new constitution
Whether a new constitution can deliver the sweeping, egalitarian change that many in the country of 19 million people want won’t be clear for years. “How will a new Chilean constitution define new economic and social rights, which are only attainable if the funding resources are there?" The vote on a new constitution was the result of an agreement between the government of President Sebastian Piñera and the opposition. The old constitution was amended over the years, notably with the 2005 repeal of an article that had allowed appointed senators and senators for life in Congress. Also, Chile's Indigenous groups are not specifically mentioned in the old constitution, and there is a push for Indigenous candidates to be allowed to run in April for election to the constitutional convention.
Chileans approve rewriting of constitution in landslide vote
Chileans voted overwhelmingly Sunday to rewrite the country’s current constitution, which dates from the military dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet four decades ago. Critics said a new constitution was needed to reform deep economic and social inequalities, while supporters of the current constitution feared changing it could lead to instability. Voters rejected an alternative that would have seen a mix of current lawmakers and elected citizens rewriting the constitution. The decision would appear to reflect a lack of faith in the country’s current elected leadership. Chile’s current constitution enshrines the free-market principles endorsed by the former military leadership.
latimes.com2/3rds of Chilean voters back rewriting their constitution
The special convention would begin drafting a new constitution that would be submitted to voters in mid-2022. “What happened in the social outburst is now reflected in the outcome of the plebiscite," said one celebrant, Paulina León. “The people have demonstrated saying they want better pensions, better health, better education. Officials trying to ensure voters felt safe barred infected persons or those close to them from the polls, and long lines formed at voting places. Voters had to wear masks — dipping them only briefly for identification purposes — and brought their own pencils.
A year after nationwide protests, Chile goes to the polls on a new constitution
More than three decades ago, Chileans went to the polls in a landmark plebiscite and voted to end the dictatorial rule of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. On Sunday, Chile votes on another referendum aimed at erasing a key pillar of Pinochet’s legacy — the 1980 constitution approved under his authoritarian rule. AdvertisementPolls have indicated that around 70% of Chileans will vote in favor of the rewrite. “It’s ridiculous to waste millions changing a constitution in the midst of a pandemic,” said Daniel Sagredo, 65, a helicopter pilot. She recalls the elation of the 1988 referendum that ousted Pinochet, but regrets that a more equitable society did not emerge.
latimes.comUS prosecutor in Miami targeting Venezuela graft is leaving
A man wearing a face mask amid the COVID-19 pandemic passes a mural of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, July 22, 2020. There may well be a collective sigh of relief in Venezuela from those he targeted, said Michael Diaz, a Miami defense attorney who has litigated against Nadler on behalf of Venezuelan clients. In June, he secured the arrest in Cape Verde of Colombian businessman Alex Saab as Maduros alleged front man was en route to Iran. Nadler, who still has a few weeks on the job, has not indicted Saab for the alleged food corruption. Nadler began working Venezuela cases in 2017, and Diaz said he quickly won a reputation as an aggressive prosecutor who had a good rapport with agents.
Chile lifts curfew a day after massive protests
Chilean President Sebastian Pinera lifted a curfew on major cities Saturday a day after more than 1.2 million people gathered here in the capital to protest the government. In Chile, a member of Congress earns almost $13,000 per month, while the minimum wage is about $422 a month. (Claudio Reyes / AFP/Getty Images)On Saturday, the city began to return to normal, though soldiers remained present in many subway stations. The protests had resulted in damage to 80 subway stations, at a loss of about $300 million. The victims were forced to undress at police stations, said the National Institute of Human Rights of Chile, an independent state agency.
latimes.comMy parents are from a frightened generation, but there is another generation that is not afraid
The people, united, will never be defeated, chanted a lone masked woman in the middle of Plaza Baquedano, a central gathering spot in Chiles capital. Im here today because social injustices are very harsh in Chile today, said the masked woman, Marcela Balbontin, covering her face with a handkerchief with a blue and red flower print. At least four deaths were attributed to the police or military; others were killed during looting, fires or other incidents. My parents are from a frightened generation, but there is another generation that is not afraid and is here now, said Belen Leiva, 25, an actress. Soldiers are seen in all subway stations, which were attacked by protesters after the fare hike proposal was announced.
latimes.comMiddle school students started a movement that has paralyzed Chiles capital
The Chilean government declared a curfew Saturday in the capital after protests against public transport fare hikes led to looting and arson attacks that paralyzed this city of 7 million. The decision to call a curfew was regarded as unprecedented during times of democratic governance in the South American nation. AdvertisementThe curfew, of indeterminate length, requires people to be off the streets from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The protests began this week as a social media campaign by middle school students who called on commuters to jump subway turnstiles in rejection of the transit fare hikes, announced on Oct. 6. On Saturday, Piera announced the suspension of the fare hikes in an attempt to mollify the protesters.
latimes.comChilean president rolls back subway fare hikes in wake of violent protests
Chilean President Sebastin Piera on Saturday announced the repeal of a subway fare hike that had prompted violent student protests less than a day after he declared a state of emergency amid rioting and commuter chaos in the capital. "I have heard with humility the voice of my compatriots," Piera said before announcing that "we are going to suspend" the fare hike. By the end of the week, demonstrations had turned violent with thousands of students burning subway stations and damaging dozens of others and some set fire to a high-rise energy company building. The protests started on Friday afternoon when high school students flooded subway stations, jumping turnstiles, dodging fares and vandalizing stations as part of protests against a fare hike. Despite Piera's lifting of the fare hike, subway and public transportation services remained suspended late Saturday and the state of emergency was still in place.
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