Chile - March 27, 2026

Statement of the Partido Obrero Internacionalista (POI-CI), adherent to the FLTI

Kast, Trump's new lackey, launches a brutal attack against the workers and the people

Rebellious youth return to the streets against the "bencinazo" (fuel hike) of the anti-worker government

On March 26 at noon, a demonstration of thousands of students took place in Santiago, mostly high school students from various schools, who took up the cry: "Education first for the worker's child, education later for the bourgeois's child!" and "Bourgeoisie tremble, tremble with fear, for the worker’s children have taken to the streets!"

The mobilization was called by the ACES and university students against budget cuts in education and the brutal attack launched by the ultra-reactionary government of Kast against the workers and the people, due to the international rise in fuel prices, and because of the war by the fascist Trump and Netanyahu, the genocidaires of the Palestinian people, who are now attacking Iran.
This fierce attack will not only affect intercity travel and freight transport (93 and 97 octane gasoline rise by $370 pesos per liter and diesel by $580 pesos per liter), but will simultaneously make all products in the basic market basket enormously more expensive.

There will be inflation and therefore a reduction in real wages; in other words, with each peso, less can be bought.
Chile imports nearly 99% of its oil, as well as gas, although mostly from Latin American countries and the US. It also imports a large part of the daily consumption products of the working class.

While the student mobilization of more than ten thousand was a first step, unfortunately, it was not more massive because the bureaucratic leaderships of CONFECH, FEUSACH, and FECH (led by the Frente Amplio, the Communist Party, and the Socialist Party) did not even want to convene it because they said it "was an irresponsibility." They are the Jota (Communist Youth) of "the cops in red, they are the dangerous ones!" Both the Socialist Party and the Frente Amplio said after Jara's defeat that they would be "constructive" opponents, criticizing "excesses," while the Stalinist scum of the CP (Communist Party) said it would be a "constructive, proactive, and dialoguing opposition." Scoundrels, the mask has come off!

Meanwhile, the leadership of the CUT, following the same script—led by Stalinism, the “Socialists, and the FA, headed by the bureaucrat José Manuel Díaz—met on March 24 with Kast's Minister of Labor, upon leaving he stated there was "good disposition from the authorities" and the "availability of the central union for social dialogue." Regarding the rise in fuel prices, that traitor stated with indifference: "this Thursday the marraqueta (bread) is going to be harder."
This is an open betrayal to the working class at a moment when there is a brutal attack against the living conditions of millions of workers and their children! They do not represent us!

The Congress of lackeys of Trump and his multinationals approved the fuel law at midnight on March 25, which was voted through with only a dozen abstentions and fewer votes against.
The "progressive" and "responsible opposition" parliamentarians, who were government supporters yesterday under Boric, today legitimize the attack on the working class's pocket from parliament, falling in line with Kast.
Everyone is responsible for the brutal attack by Trump and Kast on the workers and the people. Scoundrels! They are all the "Gringo Left."

On March 7, Kast signed the so-called "Shield of the Americas" with Donald Trump and the servile rulers of 11 countries, including Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, etc. On March 12, one day after taking office as president, he signed the agreement before the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, and Joseph Humire, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs.
An agreement for the supply of minerals such as copper, lithium, and rare earths…

This is a plan for a Chile completely submitted to US imperialism, deepening the limitless handover of the nation's natural resources to the greed of multinationals and US colonialism.
Meanwhile, with his fiscal adjustment, he intends to throw thousands of workers into the streets, with cuts in education, health, social rights, etc. A true war against the workers and the people!

Because of this, they also erase lukewarm environmental protection measures and, on the other hand, will lower taxes for big capitalists from 27% to 23%, using the excuse of "encouraging investment" and because the previous government left "the coffers empty." Lies! There is plenty of money, but it is stolen by the handful by imperialist multinationals and their native billionaire partners like the Luksics, Ponce Lerous, Angelinis, etc.

The workers' movement must be reorganized from the bottom up, with the method of workers' democracy, without collaborationist and treacherous bureaucrats! Out with the CUT bureaucracy, and all collaborationist union bureaucracies! We must raise rank-and-file assemblies and unitary committees in all factories, mines, ports, etc., of employed, unemployed, and immigrant workers, so that the entire working class can stand up!

The students who have taken to the streets to fight again today, as in October 2019, are the children of the working class. They cannot be left alone! We must promote democratic and open assemblies in all high schools, establishments, and universities! The ACES and other convening groups of March 26 have the authority to do so.
For a National Workers' Congress with delegates with a rank-and-file mandate from the entire workers' movement, the rebellious youth, and the poor peasants, to clear the way for a Revolutionary General Strike until the "bencinazo" and the entire program of anti-worker adjustments of Kast, the Pinochetist civic-military regime, and imperialism are defeated! Let those who caused the crisis pay for it: US imperialism and its junior partners, the national capitalists!

Copper and lithium for Chileans! Renationalization without compensation and under workers' control of copper, lithium, and all natural resources! That is where the money is to guarantee our demands for decent wages, pensions, work, housing, health, and free public education! Expropriation without compensation and under workers' control of all multinationals, their banks, and the AFPs (pension fund administrators)!
Down with the "state of exception" in Araucanía, and all its repressive laws and the criminalization of protest! Dissolution of the caste of genocidal officers, servants of the US imperialism! Dissolution of the "pacos" (cops) and all the repressive forces of the state! Freedom for all comrades detained for fighting on March 26 and 27! Unconditional freedom for all political prisoners in Chile and the world!

For a continental Congress of workers and poor peasants to confront the "Shield of the Americas" of US imperialism and its servant governments! Out with the military bases, their troops, and the Southern Command from all of Latin America! USA go home!
One same enemy, one same class, one same anti-imperialist struggle from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego!
For the working class to live, imperialism must die!

Correspondent for "El Cordonazo," organ of the POI-CI
(Internationalist Workers' Party), adherent to the FLTI