SANTIAGO – Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet on Thursday fulfilled the tradition of making a Public Account of her management.
It was the fourth speech of this type during her second government and is at the same time the last of the mandate.
After 10:30 am the public account began and it lasted for 2 hours and 10 minutes.
For the first time in more than 90 years, this activity took place on a different date than the commemoration of the Naval Glorias (May 21).
In the lobby of the Public Account, President Michelle Bachelet registered a 31% approval in the Adimark survey corresponding to May. The figure is up three points from April and peaks in two years.
Part of the speech was marked by her defense of free education in higher education and the announcement that it reached 60% of the most vulnerable students.
The construction of line 7 of the Santiago Metro – from Vitacura to Renca parallel to Line 1 – was also confirmed.
Bachelet announced in 2014 a US$4.2bn transport infrastructure plan that included studies for line 7, alongside the extension of line No. 2 and construction of line 3.
The project has been in the works since 2014 but has been stuck in the studies phase. In late April, it was reported that the finance ministry has not yet allocated the funds for construction although later transport minister Paola Tapia denied that the initiative was stalled.
In matters of Health, the president committed new bidding rules for the San Antonio hospital.
