Plane crashes on highway in Chile (VIDEO)
RTDEC 2023
Former Chilean Pres. Piñera Dies in Helicopter Crash
Image copyright: Spencer Platt/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
There's a reason that in the middle of his second term, Piñera's approval rating sat at 6% — making him one of the most unpopular presidents in world history, even compared to Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro. Chileans from across the political spectrum condemned him for his treatment of street protesters and failure to reform dictator Augusto Pinochet's constitution. Even his staunchest supporters understood that he was a political liability rather than a source of unity.
Narrative B
Following Piñera's first term, which was part of Chile's post-Pinochet economic revival, the two-term president once again pushed the country upward both economically and socially. While he did use justified use of force during violent times, he proved transparent by allowing the UN to visit Chile to investigate abuse of power claims. Piñera believed in using the government to give those at the bottom as much opportunity as those at the top — a legacy for which he should be remembered.