04.06.2026 11:32
In Chile, 25 people, including 12 police officers, were injured during student protests against President Kast's austerity policies. Metro stations in Santiago were closed, and traffic came to a standstill.
In Chile, 25 people, including 12 police officers, were injured during protests organized by thousands of students against the "austerity" policies of President Jose Antonio Kast's government. According to reports in the Chilean press, thousands of students gathered in the center of the capital Santiago under the organization of the Chilean Student Confederation (CONFECH).
During the demonstration, clashes occurred between police and students, leaving 25 people injured, including 12 police officers. Protesting the government's austerity policies, the students announced that they "warn the Kast government that they will organize broader actions in the future."
Stones and sticks thrown by the protesters caused damage in the surrounding area. Due to the protests, some stations on the central lines of the Santiago metro were closed to entry and exit for security reasons, and traffic in the capital came to a standstill.
KAST GOVERNMENT'S "AUSTERITY" PROGRAM
Taking office on March 11, the ultra-conservative Kast came to power promising to cut approximately $6 billion in spending over 18 months in order to fix public finances.
In this context, Kast ordered the implementation of a "comprehensive austerity plan" that envisions about a 3% cut in ministry budgets. Students, teachers, and unions claim that the Kast government's austerity program applies the largest budget cuts in the education sector.
Protesters argue that these cuts will reduce the financial resources of schools and universities, potentially negatively affecting the quality of education services.