Santiago (Chile) (AFP) – Students and police clashed this Thursday in the center of Santiago, Chile during a protest to reject possible cuts to public education, a day after President José Antonio Kast presented his draft budget for 2027.
First modification: 10/01/2026 - 19:58 Last modification: 10/02/2026 - 15:14
The police dispersed the protesters with tear gas and water cannons, who in some cases responded with stones, bottles and sticks. Seventeen people were arrested, the Interior Ministry reported.
About 6,000 people, according to the authorities, attended the call of student organizations under the motto "Not one peso less for education", despite the fact that the details of Kast's first budget, which he took office in March with the promise of austerity, are still unknown.
"And it's going to fall and it's going to fall, Pinochet's education!" chanted the protesters, alluding to the favoring of the private educational sector during the military dictatorship (1973-1990).
Early, in a festive atmosphere, with banners in defense of education, thousands of students marched from the central Plaza Italia towards the presidential palace of La Moneda.
The police blocked the way for the protesters with water cannons and tear gas when they had traveled about 800 meters.
Dressed in black, a protester faced the jets with open arms and a mannequin head with Kast's image in one hand.
On Wednesday night, the president assured in a televised message that he would maintain free public higher education for more than 600,000 students, months after his government considered limiting this right. He did not say whether he would cut the budget for universities.
The executive also announced an increase in security financing (+9.1%), one of his main workhorses, and in funds for growth and employment (+8.1%).
© 2026 AFP
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