Democracy News
Chilean Presidential Inauguration
March 15, 2010
By: Paul Larson | Printer Friendly
The major aftershocks in Chile nearly overshadowed the inauguration of new President Sebastián Piñera, in particular due to the initial 8.8 magnitude earthquake that shook much of Chile on February 27. The strongest of the inauguration day quakes measured 6.9, just shy of the 7.0 strength that devastated Haiti. The Associated Press reports a dozen aftershocks hit Chile on inauguration day. The Economist reported three during the ceremony itself.
Piñera is the first elected center-right leader since former dictator Augusto Pinochet controlled the country fifty-two years ago. The new President ran a campaign promise on economic improvement, specifically six percent growth and thousands of new jobs, according to the Washington Post. He now promotes efforts to rebuild, stating, "Let's dry our tears and put our hands to work."
After his inauguration, Piñera boarded a helicopter to inspect the damage. It is unclear if the scheduled lunch with foreign leaders took place. The Economist reports that Piñera cancelled the meal, but the AP reports Piñera greeted dignitaries over lunch in the summer palace. More notably, he sent military troops to the epicenter to prevent looting. This move highlights a change between Piñera and former President Michelle Bachelet.
Bachelet has been widely criticized for not deploying the military to cities fast enough, which led to widespread looting. Despite criticism, Bachelet left office with an unprecedented 85% approval rating. The New York Times notes that Bachelet was imprisoned and tortured during Pinochet’s military rule. Piñera was a protégé of Pinochet and “benefited generously from [his] economic model and the privatization of state industries.”
Skepticism about Piñera focus on his concern for business interests eager to profit from reconstruction over ordinary citizens, according to the Washington Post. He is a billionaire entrepreneur that introduced credit cards to Chile and currently holds a major stake in a major Chilean airline.
Sources:
The Associated Press - Pinera govt projects $30 billion in quake damage
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