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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, May 17th 2024 - 09:06 UTC

Chile

  • Saturday, April 15th 2023 - 07:37 UTC

    Chile: 40-hour working week signed into law

    Boric said it was a “historic” day because “for many years the project was considered impossible”

    Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font Friday signed into law the bill creating the 40-hour working week, one of his campaign promises .“We are taking a step forward for the welfare of working men and women”, said Boric during a promulgation ceremony at the Parque de la Familia, in Santiago.

  • Wednesday, April 12th 2023 - 10:23 UTC

    Chilean Deputies approve working week reduction

    The bill had been submitted by then-Communist Deputies Karol Carilla and Camila Vallejo (photo) in 2017

    Chile's Lower House Tuesday approved by 127 votes in favor to 14 against and 3 abstentions a working week reduction from 45 to 40 hours to be implemented gradually over the next five years, provided or when President Gabriel Boric Font signs into law the bill already greenlighted by the Senate.

  • Saturday, April 8th 2023 - 10:17 UTC

    Chilean Gov't to create a Security Ministry?

    The key thing is to legislate well, Mirosevic explained

    Chile's Interior Minister Carolina Tohá held a meeting Friday with the Speakers of both Houses of Congress to discuss concrete measures in the aftermath of the slain of three police officers. Senate Speaker Juan Antonio Coloma spoke of “a powerful effort by all” ahead as agreements between the Executive and the Legislature are to be reached. In addition to Lower House Speaker Vlado Mirosevic, the meeting was also attended by Justice Minister Luis Cordero.

  • Friday, April 7th 2023 - 19:34 UTC

    Insecurity crisis in Chile: government gives police more power to use firearms

    Amnesty International, stated the law could “increase police abuse and impunity” and is a “enormous step back” in terms of advancing police reforms.

    Street crime and violence have triggered a major political crisis in Chile, because of rampant insecurity, and the third police officer in less than a month was killed on duty. The leftish/populist government of Chile has had to sign draconian laws favoring law enforcement officer's right to use their arms, increased penalties for crimes involving firearm possession, plus US$ 1,5 billion in funds to fight crime,

  • Thursday, April 6th 2023 - 14:28 UTC

    Reversing Latin America’s Democratic Decay, the proliferation of “hybrid regimes”

    Chile, Costa Rica, and Uruguay, these are the only three Latin American countries that the EIU does not label “hybrid regimes,” “authoritarian regimes,” or “flawed democracies.”

    By Jorge G Castañeda and Carlos Ominami (*), NEW YORK – The best way to safeguard democracy in Latin America is to build strong welfare states. But since this is a medium- to long-term project, meeting the short-term threat of authoritarian populism will require more immediate solutions.

  • Thursday, April 6th 2023 - 10:55 UTC

    Presidents Fernández and Boric discuss regional agenda

    Meetings between presidents create complicity and affection, Boric told Fernández

    Argentine President Alberto Fernández and his Chilean colleague Gabriel Boric discussed Wednesday in Santiago issues of bilateral and regional interest during an encounter to celebrate the 205h anniversary of the so-called Abrazo de Maipú (Maipú hug) between independence heroes José de San Martín and Bernardo O'Higgins.

  • Tuesday, March 28th 2023 - 10:45 UTC

    UN meeting on climate change kicks off in Chile

    Climate change represents “an unprecedented threat for the whole world,” Minister Rojas warned

    Experts from all over the world convened in Santiago, Chile, Monday for the opening day of a United Nations (UN) week of adaptation to climate change to address impacts and challenges, it was reported.

  • Monday, March 27th 2023 - 10:24 UTC

    Chileans main concern, street crime and violence; President Boric's support down to 25%, latest opinion poll

    Chilean urban population, first of concerns street crime and violence with 44,8% followed by inflation, 34,2%, and illegal migration, 28,6%

    The latest public opinion poll, “encuesta Pulso Ciudadano” has shown that support for Chilean president Gabriel Boric continues to drop, with almost 70% rejecting the president's performance.

  • Sunday, March 26th 2023 - 14:14 UTC

    Presidents Boric and Lacalle hold talks in Santo Domingo

    Boric said he had a good meeting with Lacalle and insisted a common Latin American currency would still take quite a while

    Presidents Gabriel Boric Font of Chile and Luis Lacalle Pou of Uruguay held a bilateral on the sides of the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Among the topics discussed was a joint interest in hosting the 2030 football World Cup. In addition to Boric, Lacalle also held a meeting with Spain's King Felipe VI.

  • Friday, March 24th 2023 - 10:14 UTC

    Chile's Senate agrees to cut down number of working hours

    The bill had been introduced in 2017 by then-Deputies Camila Vallejo and Karol Cariola of Communist allegiance

    Chile's Senate passed a bill cutting down the number of working hours from 45 to a maximum of 40 per week. If ratified by the Lower House, the new scheme will be applied gradually over a period of five years.