Estallido Social 2019

October 2019 — Chile Erupts

On October 18, 2019, the Estallido Social (social explosion) began — the largest protest movement in Chile since the end of the dictatorship. The trigger was trivial: a metro fare increase of 30 Pesos (4 cents). The reaction was anything but trivial: Millions of Chileans took to the streets to protest against 30 years of pent-up inequality, privatization, and social injustice.

The slogan “No son 30 pesos, son 30 años" (It's not about 30 Pesos, it's about 30 years) summed up what it was really about: The neoliberal economic system introduced by Pinochet had remained largely unchanged even after 30 years of democracy. Health, education, and pensions were privatized and unaffordable for many Chileans.

The protests were both peaceful and violent: Millions marched peacefully, but there were also looting, arson (metro stations were destroyed), and severe police violence. Over 400 demonstrators lost an eye to rubber bullets. Plaza Italia in Santiago was renamed Plaza de la Dignidad (Dignity Square) — a symbol of the protest that remains alive today.

The result: A constitutional referendum in October 2020, where 78% of Chileans voted for a new constitution (the old one dated back to the Pinochet era). The first draft of the constitution was rejected in 2022, a second in 2023 as well — Chile continues to search for its path.

For travelers, the Estallido Social is primarily visible through street art: In Santiago, Valparaíso, and other cities, murals tell of the protests, the victims, and the hopes for a fairer Chile.