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SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chilean police launched water cannons and tear gas Thursday to repel protesters trying to get past a barrier as President Michelle Bachelet spoke to the nation about a constitutional reform that she hopes will help renew faith in the country's political class.
Officers halted marchers several blocks from the Congress building in the port city of Valparaiso, about 66 miles (106 kilometers) northwest of Santiago.
Most of the several thousand people demonstrated peacefully, but some masked protesters set barricades ablaze in the street and some vandalized nearby businesses. Police detained 37 people and one protester was seriously injured after falling, said Gen. Julio Pineda.
Thursday was Naval Day, a holiday when presidents traditionally speak to the nation. This year it comes at a time when Chileans are increasingly fed up with politicians due to several scandals, including one involving the president's son, who many accuse of using his influence to obtain a favorable bank loan.
With a 30 percent approval rating, Bachelet, previously president between 2006 and 2010, is suffering the worst crisis of her political career.
"Today there is a consensus of the urgent need to stop the trafficking of influence, stop the conflicts of interests and the corruption in politics and business," Bachelet said. "We need to restore confidence."
Bachelet believes that one way to do that is to reform the constitution put in place by Gen. Augusto Pinochet during his 1973 to 1990 dictatorship. While the constitution has been amended several times, many believe it needs to be completely overhauled.
Bachelet didn't provide details about the reform, a process set to begin in September, but said citizens across the political spectrum would be invited to participate.
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