Chile moves to the Right

[Magda Hassan]

There has not been a 'left' government in Chile for more than 35 years. So, the government is not moving from the left to the right but just from the right to the further right. Nor is it new. All of Pinochet's illegal constitution still stands. Nothing has changed. Nothing repealed. No one jailed besides Contreras (in relative luxury) and a few minor underlings. The multinationals still got all their resources at rock bottom prices. The army still got their 10% of all copper sales and they still had all the guns at every one's head. Just ask the students, indigenous and trade unionists. I am not the least surprised that Pinera is in. Apart from there being the usual 'voting irregularities' like vote buying which is rampant and of course huge corruption amongst the 'elites' that run the show there as business as usual both Frei and Bachelet are weaker than watered down water. Neither have never delivered one iota of meaningful change and have been nothing better than a seat warmer until it was right for Pinera and co to come back on stage. It might seem surprising since both of their fathers were murdered by the regime but they were cynical enough to use their parent's death as useful for vote gathering but that was the end of it. I can only conclude that they have been bought by cash or fear. Another alternative is they don't give a shit. In any case things will not be good for the people of Chile and it is unlikely that Pinera is going to have a road to Damascas moment. Omunami would have been an interesting adventure but we will never know as he didn't win.