Thousands in Chile protest against state pension system
SANTIAGO, Chile – Tens of thousands of people in Chile have staged a nationwide protest demanding reforms of the country’s pension system.
Demonstrators say the system managed under private pension funds should be thrown out as grossly unfair. They say Chileans get poor retirement benefits that can be below the minimum salary of about $390.
Friday’s protest was mostly peaceful. But hooded vandals who infiltrated the march clashed with anti-riot police and set up dozens of flaming barricades, blocking traffic in the Chilean capital. Police responded with tear gas. A subway station in Santiago was briefly closed due to the gas.
President Michelle Bachelet recently announced that her government plans to send a bill to Congress seeking to overhaul the pension system.
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