Chile in 2003 was a country of great economic and social progress. It had a population of 15 million people, with 80% living in urban areas. It was the Latin American country with the highest GDP per capita and its economy was mainly based on copper exports and agriculture. According to computergees, the government had implemented several reforms to promote economic growth, including privatization of state-owned companies and trade liberalization. Chile was also making strides in terms of social development, as it had achieved universal health coverage in 2002 and increased its public education budget significantly.
The political landscape was dominated by two parties: the center-left coalition Concertación de Partidos por la Democracia (CPD) and the right-wing Independent Democratic Union (UDI). Both parties had been in power for some time, alternating control between them since 1994. The Chilean economy had grown steadily since then, although there were some issues such as high levels of inequality and poverty that still needed to be addressed.
Chile had also made strides in terms of human rights, having signed several international agreements to protect freedom of speech, press freedom and labor rights among others. It had also created a national human rights plan to address issues such as discrimination against indigenous peoples and women’s rights. Despite these advances, however, Chile still faced challenges such as environmental degradation caused by mining operations in the north and south regions of the country as well as poverty levels that were still too high for many citizens.
Yearbook 2003
Chile. A number of major corruption scandals were revealed in January. Former Gov. Carlos Cruz was indicted along with five members of Congress and a wide range of public officials for receiving money from private companies.
During the process, the prosecutor in the case, Carlos Aránguiz, also resigned, according to the critics after pressure from the government. In addition, it was revealed that Central Bank Governor Carlos Massad’s secretary sent confidential financial information to his boyfriend at a financial holding company.
According to Countryaah.com, Chile Independence Day is September 18. Massad first refused to testify in the subsequent trial and was forced to resign in April. The scandals cast a dark shadow over Chile and President Ricardo Lagos, who in his speech to the nation last year had highlighted the country that Latin America’s least corrupt. This year’s speech was met by protests and demonstrations.
On June 11, the Senate voted in favor of a proposal to abolish the constitutional clause that allows the military to intervene in politics. It is considered as the first step in the joint efforts of the government coalition and the right to dismantle the so-called institutional security arrangements in the form of a constitutional supplement left by the dictator Augusto Pinochet when he resigned as president in 1990. Among these remain the unelected life senators and the ban on the president to dismiss military commanders.
At the same time, for the first time, a high-ranking military, Army Chief Juan Emílio Cheyre, condemned the human rights crimes committed during Pinochet’s dictatorship.
In southern Chile, Indian organizations have escalated their land occupations and protests against the government permitting, among other things, forest companies to violate the traditional rights of Indians. In October it was reported that representatives of the Mapuche Indians decided to set up their own “parliament” in Concepción.
December
Vaccination against covid-19 begins
24 December
The first vaccinations against covid-19 in Latin America are being carried out in Chile, Mexico and Costa Rica. In Chile, a 46-year-old assistant nurse receives her first injection while President Sebastián Piñera watches. Chile has received a first round of 10,000 doses manufactured by Pfizer and Biontech. More than 16,300 people have now been confirmed dead in covid-19 in Chile.
President fined for selfie
December 20th
President Sebastián Piñera receives a fine of the equivalent of approximately SEK 30,000 since he posed for one with a woman took both of them – and where neither of them wears a mouth guard. During the ongoing pandemic, it is strictly forbidden to stay in public places without a mouth guard. Anyone who violates the ban can also be sentenced to prison. The photo was taken on a beach near Piñera’s hometown of Cachagua and has gone viral.
November
Healthcare strike for higher funding
26 November
Around 60,000 employees in the health care system will start a strike for higher funding and better compensation for the employees in the budget in 2021. The strike will begin after eight months of negotiations with the Ministry of Health. The strike organizers assure that care for covid-19 patients will be maintained.
The police chief resigns after shooting at minors
November 19
Police Chief Mario Rozas has resigned after police fired two teenagers in connection with protests against social injustices. The national police carabineros, headed by Rozas, has long been criticized for abusing protesters. The protests grew into an outcry when a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old were shot in the legs at a treatment home for young people in Talcahuano.
The Minister of the Interior resigns after protests
November 3
Interior Minister Victor Pérez resigns after the Chamber of Deputies closed him down and approved prosecution for police abuse during popular protests. Parliament’s Second Chamber has voted by 80 votes to 70, approving the opposition’s request for prosecution on constitutional grounds. Pérez took office in July, replacing Andres Chadwick, who was deposed on similar grounds.
Republic of Chile Brief Guide
According to AbbreviationFinder, Chile is a state in South America. It is a long and narrow country between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean. Chile’s neighbors are Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. The predominant language of Chile is Spanish, but Native American languages are also spoken in Chile.
Food & beverage
Breakfast is usually sweet. Chilean cuisine traditionally includes soups, meat, fish, potatoes and box dishes.
The Spanish conquistadors brought with them the basic necessities of European cuisine, such as garlic, onion, oregano, and wines, which slowly merged with the ingredients of the Mapuche indigenous people. In the Chilean food culture, one can notice the variety of flavors and spices and the varied climate of the country. The long coast offers a variety of seafood and Chile is one of the largest wine producers in the world. Of the seafood dishes, you should visit at least reneita, congrio, corvina, locosia (sea snail), java (shrimp) and centolla (crab).
We recommend using industrially bottled or boiled water. Vegetables and fruits should be rinsed well. We do not recommend consuming unpasteurized dairy products.
Security
Chile is a safe country. However, in big cities and in the midst of crowds, pickpocketing is possible and moving around at night in certain areas can be unsafe. Valuable jewelry and watches should be left at home. General caution within common sense is desirable throughout the journey.