Chile’s students protest far-right president’s education cuts

2026-03-27 - 00:20

Members of various student groups protest in Santiago. (EPA Images pic) SANTIAGO: Thousands of Chilean students protested Thursday against new far-right President Jose Antonio Kast’s budget cuts for education. Kast, who took office on March 11, kicked off his presidency by ordering 3% spending cuts for every ministry, including education, and is weighing whether to limit free university tuition in Chile. The protesters, many of them students in school uniforms, marched past the presidential palace in the capital Santiago, carrying signs with messages such as “Anti-Kast” with a swastika in place of the S. Some hurled stones at police, who fired water cannons to break up protesters. “We want respect for the rights we have fought for all these years,” 22-year-old student Benjamin Traslavina told AFP. Kast, 60, has vowed to rein in government spending, following four years under left-wing president Gabriel Boric. The hard-right leader has set a target of cutting around $6 billion in spending in 18 months — which opponents say would mean slashing popular social programs. One proposal is to end free university education for first-time students older than 30. “My mom is turning 50 and always wanted to study. She never managed because she had kids and couldn’t afford it,” said 18-year-old student Sofia Diaz. “People should have the opportunity.” Gasoline prices in Chile rose 30% Thursday and diesel prices went up 60%after the government slashed fuel subsidies despite upward price pressure from the war in the Middle East. Later Thursday, Kast signed an “Energy Emergency” law aimed at bringing down fuel prices.