New Chilean President Sebastian Pinera was minutes from being sworn in on Thursday when major aftershocks struck the central coast of the earthquake-ravaged country. Less than an hour after being inaugurated, he appeared on television to announce that troops, relief supplies and even Pinera himself would be heading immediately to the quake zone.
By responding aggressively to the tremors, Pinera appeared to be trying to avoid the missteps of his predecessor, Michelle Bachelet, whose initial response to a devastating earthquake last month was criticized as slow and ineffective.
Pinera said the government would “deploy all the troops that may be necessary” beginning on Thursday evening to ensure public order on the streets. In what appeared to be a pointed reference to Bachelet, he added, “This government will not hesitate one instant, nor wait one second to act.”
PHOTO: EPA
In the legislative seat of Valparaiso, about 135km from the quakes, dignitaries who gathered for Pinera’s inauguration, including Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo and Crown Prince Felipe of Spain, glanced with some concern at the shuddering ceiling of the National Congress building as the quakes hit. They later made nervous jokes about the tremors as they greeted Pinera and his wife on their way into the luncheon.
Asked about the reception by Pinera, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina laughed and said: “Moving, moving.”
The strong aftershocks, up to a magnitude of 6.9, almost overshadowed the inauguration of Chile’s first right-wing leader in 20 years. But Pinera refused to acknowledge the tremors during the ceremonies, continuing to smile and shake hands with world leaders even as the National Congress building in Valparaiso shook and television light stands swayed.
Immediately after the event, the building was evacuated, and Pinera, a billionaire businessman and former senator, set out on a busy first day as president of a country still reeling from last month’s magnitude 8.8 quake and the accompanying tsunami.
About an hour after an inaugural lunch with foreign leaders, Pinera flew to Rancagua, a city near the epicenter of Thursday’s powerful tremors.
Later, he appeared in Constitucion, the coastal town hardest hit last month, where 87 people were killed and 43 are still missing. Wearing a bright red windbreaker, Pinera gazed at a damaged church for a few moments and made the sign of the cross before signing his first act as president, a law calling for relief payments of US$76 to about 4 million people affected by the disaster.
He said that one flower for every victim had been placed on the edge of the river where a wave entered from the sea.
In an echo of Bachelet, who was known for her compassion and sensitivity, he promised that his government would be “close to the people, close to the problems” and “committed to solutions.”
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