REPORT
Chile: students demonstrate, a first since Boric came to power
Audio 01:24
Student demonstration in Santiago de Chile, March 25.
REUTERS - IVAN ALVARADO
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
This Friday, March 25, in Chile, thousands of students demonstrated across the country to demand free education and better living conditions.
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From our correspondent in Santiago
,
Naïla Derroisné
This mobilization took on a symbolic character since it was the first organized since
Gabriel Boric
, himself a former student leader, became president.
Young people also voted largely for him in the presidential election and they expect a lot.
►Also read
: Chile: former student leader Gabriel Boric elected president at 35
Chilean students want an increase in the food grant, which is 37 euros.
Difficult with this sum to hold until the end of the month.
"
I use all my scholarship and for what remains to be paid I have to work
", says Matias.
Matias is part of the Confederation of Students of Chile.
He would need at least 20 euros more per month to get by.
“
Inflation and the variation in the price index have been steadily increasing over the past two years, due to the pandemic and the social movement of 2019 which shook our country
,” he observes.
“
Gabriel comes from the student world, from social movements
”
It's been 10 years since the food exchange has been upgraded, so Matias is counting on the new president Boric to get things moving.
“
Gabriel comes from the student world, from social movements.
So the president should understand our action of going out in the street to demand our demands.
This is the only pressure mechanism we have against the institution
,” he continues.
Further in the procession, Catalina, 20, has another request for Gabriel Boric.
“
We need non-sexist education.
We must teach and change all these patriarchal mentalities
, ”she wishes.
But even with a new government made up of a majority of women, Catalina has no illusions: “
A state does not become feminist overnight.
It's a change that lasts for years.
It's historic and it will stay in the books, but it will take time.
»
During the demonstration, clashes broke out.
A young man was shot by a policeman.
The government quickly reacted by describing the facts as “
serious
”.
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Chile
Gabriel Boric