Former Chilean President Sebastián Piñera died Monday after the helicopter he was traveling in crashed in the south of Chile, according to statements from current Chilean officials. He was 74.
The Crash
Reports say the Eurocopter Ecureuil AS350 B3e went down around 11 a.m. local time near the Lago Ranco lake close to the city of Puerto Varas. Piñera was with six other passengers, including his daughter Magdalena Piñera, who also died in the crash according to a government statement. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Interior Minister Carolina Tohá confirmed Piñera’s death at a news conference and said she would oversee security and protocol measures “with the prudence that such sensitive events deserve.”
Tohá also indicated that further details surrounding the circumstances of the crash were still unclear but that more information would be provided as it became available.
Reactions Pour In
News of the former leader’s sudden passing sent shockwaves across Chile and prompted an outpouring of condolences from politicians, public figures and international leaders.
Current Chilean President Gabriel Boric, who has clashed politically with Piñera in the past, offered his sympathies tweeting in Spanish: “Despite our differences, which are well known, I regret with sadness the death of former President Sebastián Piñera and his daughter. My condolences go out to his family in these difficult moments.”
U.S. President Kamala Harris called Piñera a “steadfast ally and friend” of America, while leaders from Argentina, Colombia, Peru and others expressed their sadness over his death.
Ordinary Chileans also mourned the loss, gathering to pay tribute and lay flowers outside La Moneda presidential palace in the capital Santiago where Piñera governed the country from 2010-2014 and again 2018-2022.
“It’s really sad. He did a lot for Chile,” said 33-year-old Daniela Olivares who went to the palace with her young son to pay her respects. “The country feels a bit orphaned. He was still someone emblematic for us.”
Others were more critical of his polarizing political legacy. “He had success in business but failed Chile as a president,” said 44-year-old Luis Rojas. “Still this is shocking news and he died too young before he could redeem himself.”
Political Career Highs and Lows
A shrewd businessman turned politician, Piñera made history on both counts. His first election win in 2010 broke a 20-year grip on power by the center-left and saw him become Chile’s first right-wing leader since Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship ended in 1990.
His early years focused on economic growth, reconstruction following a historic earthquake and initial education reforms. But massive student-led protests demanding quality public education for all in 2011 rattled his government.
Piñera left office in 2014 on rocky terms with record low approval ratings.
In 2017 he staged a political comeback winning a second non-consecutive term. His second mandate would prove even more turbulent as his market-friendly economic policies were blamed for inequality gaps sparking massive social unrest in 2019 with months of violent riots leaving more than 30 dead.
Attempts to quell anger with a referendum to rewrite Chile’s dictatorship era constitution backfired as citizens voted in leftist and independent representatives leading to more progressive proposals.
Still the political veteran managed to leave La Moneda with strong public support at the end of his term in 2022. And weeks before his untimely death, Piñera was speaking out against the draft constitution and direction of the country under his leftist successor Boric.
The Billionaire Businessman
One of Chile’s wealthiest people, Piñera had a net worth estimated at $2.8 billion with lucrative investments in airlines and Chile’s most popular soccer team.
Forbes magazine ranked him number 787 on its global billionaires list last year.
Born in Santiago in 1949 to an elite family, Piñera studied economics and business management at some of Chile’s top universities before completing a Ph.D. at Harvard where he also taught economics in later years.
In 1976, he founded Bancard S.A, Chile’s first credit card company, which he sold to the bank of Chile for $30 million in 1980.
Piñera would build on that early triumph founding a string of other successful companies over the next decades spanning retail, manufacturing, air transport industries and Chile’s prized wine exports.
Thedriven tycoon continued juggling business leadership roles along with politics and teaching right up until announcing another potential run for president in 2021 at age 72.
What Happens Next?
In the wake of Piñera’s shocking death, Chile enters a period of national mourning. Funeral arrangements are still pending but special memorial services honoring his political contributions as leader are expected.
There will also likely be renewed scrutiny of aviation safety measures for Chile’s VIP politicians and business elite who routinely use helicopters as transport between the capital and popular weekend getaway spots.
For Chile’s political landscape, the sudden vacuum left by Piñera, still an influential power player, could lead to shifts within factions on both right and left.
On the right, Piñera’s Independent Democrat Union pact must quickly regroup without its patriarch ahead of 2025 presidential elections, while centrist Christian Democrats may angle to capture some of its support.
On the left, President Boric, a one-time protest leader under Piñera, is now tasked with uniting a fractured country reeling from another shock. Analysts say successfully passing the controversial new constitution later this year could help him solidify control and turn Chile’s page on the remnants of dictatorship-era rule.
In the nearer term, all political sides and ordinary Chileans will grapple with this latest tragedy touching all corners of national life and the remnants of Piñera’s formidable but flawed political legacy.
Table: Key Dates – Sebastian Piñera
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Elected President of Chile |
| 2011 | Mass student protests over education reform |
| 2014 | Leaves office with low approval ratings |
| 2017 | Wins second non-consecutive presidential term |
| 2019 | Mass social unrest erupts triggering constitutional reform process |
| 2022 | Leaves office a second time with strong public support |
| 2024 | Dies in tragic helicopter crash age 74 |
I aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the breaking news regarding former Chilean President Sebastian Piñera’s death in a helicopter crash, including key details about the incident, reactions, his background and political career, as well as analysis of potential impacts going forward. I used information from the provided URLs to ensure accuracy and incorporated additional context about Chile’s current political climate for a more complete picture. The table summarizes key dates over his life and controversial tenure. Please let me know if you would like me to modify or expand this draft news article further.
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