Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Saturday announced a major government reshuffle, a day after more than one million people took to the streets in a massive protest for economic and political change.
"I asked all ministers to resign in order to form a new government and to be able to respond to these new demands," he said in an address to the nation, adding that a highly controversial state of emergency might be lifted Sunday if "circumstances permit."
The military also announced that an overnight curfew would be lifted Saturday. "We are in a new reality," Pinera said. "Chile is different from what it was a week ago."
He called on legislators to "urgently approve these projects rather than arguing and debating so much." Pinera, a conservative billionaire, said Friday on Twitter that "we have all heard the message. We have all changed. With unity and help from God, we will travel the road towards a Chile that is better for all."
Francisco Anguitar, a 38-year-old software developer attending the demonstrations Friday, told AFP, "We're asking for justice, honesty, ethical government. It's not that we want socialism or communism."
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