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Central and South America: Chile

Support for President after criticism from opposition

Initiatives to improve the quality of life for Chileans across a range of issues are still the main focus of the Government according to President Michelle Bachelet. The Government made this statement in response to criticisms from the opposition that the current administration is too focused on the nation’s capital, Transantiago, and its public transport system.

The spokesman, Minister of Government Affairs, Lagos Weber, pointed to the fact that President Bachelet recently travelled to Valparaiso after a serious explosion in the port city, where she supervised efforts to deliver aid to those affected and handed out housing subsidies to 45 families who were rendered homeless by the disaster.

President Bachelet said that if the executive branch had not prioritised this task, “The emergency funds would not have arrived as quickly as they did, the housing subsidies promised would not have arrived, the programme to support merchants would not have been implemented and we would not have been able to offer emergency jobs.”

She emphasised that, “the Government gave Valparaiso the importance and priority it needed, and we have been keeping our promises”.

Although the new public transport scheme for the nation’s capital is very important, President Bachelet said it is not Chile, nor her whole administration. She asserted that her Government will not be distracted, but will make good on the promises it made to the Chilean people.

For further information visit the Chilean Government website at: www.chileangovernment.cl

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