Sebastián Piñera#Transition

Piñera was born in Santiago on 1 December 1949,{{Cite web |last=Piñera Echenique |first=Miguel Juan Sebastián |title=Certificado de Nacimiento |url=https://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Archivo:CLSRCeI_AP1194912010(1).pdf |work=Registro Civil de Chile |date=19 December 1949 |access-date=15 April 2015 |archive-date=11 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150411193434/https://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Archivo:CLSRCeI_AP1194912010(1).pdf |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |author=BuscaBiografias.com |title=Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique |url=http://www.buscabiografias.com/bios/biografia/verDetalle/9748/Miguel%20Juan%20Sebastian%20Pinera%20Echenique |access-date=2 September 2012 |archive-date=15 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120215190956/http://www.buscabiografias.com/bios/biografia/verDetalle/9748/Miguel%20Juan%20Sebastian%20Pinera%20Echenique |url-status=live }} as the third child of José Piñera Carvallo (1917–1991) and Magdalena Echenique Rozas (1919–2000).{{cite web |url=https://www.sebastianpinera.cl/biografia-pinera/ |title=Biografía Sebastián Piñera Echenique. Su familia y sus primeros años |date=2024 |website=SP Sebastián Piñera |publisher=Sebastián Piñera [Official Website] |access-date=6 February 2024 |trans-quote=Sebastián Piñera He was the third of six siblings: Guadalupe, José, Sebastián, Pablo, Miguel and Magdalena. |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206220942/https://www.sebastianpinera.cl/biografia-pinera/ |url-status=live }} Among his ancestors on his maternal side is his mother's great-great-grandmother, Luisa Pinto Garmendia, the sister of President Aníbal Pinto Garmendia and daughter of President Francisco Antonio Pinto and Luisa Garmendia Alurralde, who was a descendant of the penultimate Inca emperor, Huayna Capac.Retamal Favereau, Julio; Celis Atria, Carlos; y Muñoz Correa, Juan Guillermo – "Familias Fundadoras de Chile, 1540–1600", Editorial Universitaria, Santiago, 1992. p. 789 He was a nephew of the former oldest living Roman Catholic bishop in the world, Bernardino Piñera, who died in 2020 due to complications from COVID-19.{{cite web|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/chile/2020/06/21/bernadino-pinera-murio-neumonia-covid-19-segun-certificado-defuncion.shtml|title=Bernardino Piñera murió por neumonía por Covid-19, según certificado de defunción|work=BioBioChile|language=es-CL|date=21 June 2020|access-date=22 June 2020|first=Felipe|last=Delgado|archive-date=23 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623192246/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/chile/2020/06/21/bernadino-pinera-murio-neumonia-covid-19-segun-certificado-defuncion.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.periodicoencuentro.cl/abril2010/|title=Monseñor Bernardino Piñera y la relación con su sobrino Presidente|publisher=periodicoencuentro.cl|access-date=22 September 2016|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923033151/http://www.periodicoencuentro.cl/abril2010/|url-status=live}}

File:Sebastián Piñera 4586 - FB 2664 (cropped).jpg

Piñera's family moved to Belgium one year after his birth and later to New York City, where his father was the Chilean ambassador to the United Nations. Piñera returned to Chile in 1955 and enrolled in the Colegio del Verbo Divino ("Divine Word School"), from which he graduated in 1967.{{in lang|es}} Universia [http://www.universia.cl/portada/actualidad/noticia_actualidad.jsp?noticia=120078 Sebastián Piñera Perfil] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207211052/http://www.universia.cl/portada/actualidad/noticia_actualidad.jsp?noticia=120078 |date=7 February 2015}}

Piñera then enrolled at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, from which he graduated in 1971 with an undergraduate degree in commercial engineering. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Raúl Iver Oxley Prize, which is given to the best overall student in each class.{{Citation |url=http://diario.elmercurio.cl/detalle/index.asp?id=44b683ae-0698-4b29-a37e-54adbab1d7d3 |work=El Mercurio |title=Caminos cruzados |language=es |access-date=18 January 2010 |archive-date=8 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208162340/http://diario.elmercurio.cl/detalle/index.asp?id=44b683ae-0698-4b29-a37e-54adbab1d7d3 |url-status=live }}.

Piñera continued on to Harvard University on a partial Fulbright Program for postgraduate studies in economics. During his time at Harvard, Piñera and a classmate coauthored an article, "The Old South's Stake in the Inter-Regional Movement of Slaves", for the Journal of Economic History.{{Citation |last1=Kotlikoff |first1=Laurence J. |last2=Piñera |first2=Sebastián |name-list-style=amp |title=The Old South's Stake in the Inter-Regional Movement of Slaves, 1850–1860 |journal=Journal of Economic History |volume=37 |issue=2 |year=1977 |pages=434–450 |jstor=2118765 |doi=10.1017/s002205070009700x|s2cid=153416059 }} After three years at Harvard, Piñera graduated with both a Master of Arts and PhD in economics.{{Citation |url=http://noticiassecretas.blogspot.com/2009/07/la-tesis-doctoral-de-sebastian-pinera.html |title=La tesis doctoral de Sebastián Piñera |date=30 July 2009 |first=Roberto |last=Castillo Sandoval |work=Noticias secretas |language=es |access-date=20 December 2009 |archive-date=8 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708055115/http://noticiassecretas.blogspot.com/2009/07/la-tesis-doctoral-de-sebastian-pinera.html |url-status=live }}

Piñera was an economics lecturer from 1971 until 1988 at the University of Chile, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and Adolfo Ibáñez University. In 1971, he was in charge of Economic Political Theory in the School of Economics at the University of Chile, and in 1972, at the Valparaiso Business School.{{Citation |url=http://biografias.bcn.cl/pags/biografias/detalle_par.php?id=226 |title=Sebastián Piñera Echeñique — Senador |work=Reseñas parlamentarias — Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile |year=2020 |language=es |access-date=21 December 2009 |archive-date=26 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070726205301/http://biografias.bcn.cl/pags/biografias/detalle_par.php?id=226 |url-status=live }}

In 1989, with Cecilia Morel, Danica Radic, and Paula Délano, Piñera created the Enterprising Women Foundation (Fundación Mujer Emprende), originally called The House of Youth (La Casa de la Juventud). The foundation aims to assist in the development of young women of lower income.{{in lang|es}} Fundacion Mujer Emprende [http://www.mujeremprende.cl/me_qs.php Quienes Somos] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115140830/http://www.mujeremprende.cl/me_qs.php |date=15 January 2010}}

In 1973, Piñera created the foundation Fundación Futuro, of which he was president and whose directors are Cristián Boza D., María Teresa Chadwick P., Hugo Montes B., Cecilia Morel M., Renato Poblete S.J., and Fabio Valdés C. The head director of the foundation is Magdalena Piñera.{{Cite web|url=http://www.estrellaarica.cl/prontus4_nots/site/artic/20100423/pags/20100423170525.html|title=Magdalena Piñera, directora de la Fundación Futuro lanzó "Ojo con el Ejército de Chile" (Video)|website=www.estrellaarica.cl|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222104856/http://www.estrellaarica.cl/prontus4_nots/site/artic/20100423/pags/20100423170525.html|url-status=live}} The foundation's mission is to help in Chile's development of justice, freedom, and democracy.{{in lang|es}} Fundanción Futuro [http://www.fundacionfuturo.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=43&Itemid=20 Quienes Somos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206022708/http://www.fundacionfuturo.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=43&Itemid=20 |date=6 February 2010 }} The foundation was renamed Fundación Cultura y Sociedad after Piñera was elected president.{{in lang|es}} Terra [http://economia.terra.cl/noticias/noticia.aspx?idNoticia=201002091001_INV_78739381 Semana clave para fundación a la que Piñera traspasará propiedad de Chilevisión] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214101933/http://economia.terra.cl/noticias/noticia.aspx?idNoticia=201002091001_INV_78739381 |date=14 February 2010 }}

Under the Fundación Cultura y Sociedad (formerly Fundación Futuro), the Grupo Tantauco has the mission of environmentalism, and is administered by Juan Carlos Urquidi. It was created to support the proposals Piñera instituted or planned to institute during his presidency.{{in lang|es}} Piñera2010 [http://pinera2010.cl/2009/09/22/conoce-las-propuestas-medioambientales-del-grupo-tantauco/ Conoce las propuestas medioambientales del Grupo Tantauco] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207222157/http://pinera2010.cl/2009/09/22/conoce-las-propuestas-medioambientales-del-grupo-tantauco/ |date=7 December 2009 }} In 2005, Piñera created Tantauco Park (Spanish: Parque Tantauco), a {{Convert|1,180|km2|sqmi}} a private natural reserve he bought and owned on the south end of Chiloé Island, to protect {{Convert|118,000|ha|acre}} of the region's unique ecosystem. His foundation runs the park, which is open to the public and is an ecotourist location.{{cite web |title=Quiénes somos |url=https://www.parquetantauco.cl/quienes-somos/ |website=www.parquetantauco.cl |access-date=7 February 2024 |language=es |date=29 July 2022 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207010608/https://www.parquetantauco.cl/quienes-somos/ |url-status=live }} Piñera bought the {{Convert|118,000|ha|acre}} in Chiloé through an offshore company in Panama. He faced pressure to cede eight hectares to sixteen indigenous families whose presence pre-dates Piñera's purchase and who have spent years negotiating to obtain title to their familial lands.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-landrights-island-idUSKCN1GD5JE|title=Mystical islanders divided over Chile's giant bridge project|work=Reuters|date=1 March 2018|via=www.reuters.com|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-date=20 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420224552/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-landrights-island-idUSKCN1GD5JE|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/pais/2017/06/09/familias-que-viven-en-tantauco-presionan-a-pinera-para-que-entregue-hectareas-antes-de-las-primarias/|title=Familias que viven en Tantauco presionan a Piñera para que entregue hectáreas antes de las primarias |date=9 June 2017|website=El Mostrador|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308160449/https://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/pais/2017/06/09/familias-que-viven-en-tantauco-presionan-a-pinera-para-que-entregue-hectareas-antes-de-las-primarias/|url-status=live}}

An additional project, Grupo Tantauco: Derechos Humanos, was proposed in hopes of beginning a reconciliation between the Chilean people who suffered human rights violations during Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship.{{in lang|es}} Piñera2010 [http://www.pinera2010.cl/2008/12/05/este-miercoles-se-lanza-nuevo-grupo-tantauco-derechos-humanos/ Grupo Tantauco: Derechos Humanos] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091116222334/http://pinera2010.cl/2008/12/05/este-miercoles-se-lanza-nuevo-grupo-tantauco-derechos-humanos/ |date=16 November 2009 }}

File:Sebastián Piñera (2009).jpg

Piñera was general manager of the Banco de Talca. In 1982, a warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of violating banking law and fraudulent loans,{{Cite web |date=27 July 2009 |id=WikileaksRef: 09SANTIAGO714 |title=Cablegate: Chile Media Report - July 27 |website=Scoop News |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WL0907/S01407/cablegate-chile-media-report-july-27.htm |access-date=2024-02-20}} in an event where over US$38 million were not paid to the Central Bank of Chile, Piñera being the Banco de Talca's CEO. The money disappeared and was never paid.{{cite web|url=http://www.infogate.cl/2015/08/29/8-de-agosto-de-1982-el-dia-en-que-sebastian-pinera-se-fugo-de-la-justicia-por-el-caso-banco-de-talca/|title=Infogate|date=29 August 2015 |access-date=25 October 2020|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031223151/https://www.infogate.cl/2015/08/29/8-de-agosto-de-1982-el-dia-en-que-sebastian-pinera-se-fugo-de-la-justicia-por-el-caso-banco-de-talca/|url-status=live}} Piñera spent 24 days in hiding while his brother, José Piñera, appealed the order, making some calls to underestimate the crime. A writ of habeas corpus, first rejected by the Appeals Court but then approved by the Supreme Court, acquitted Piñera.{{cite web |date=2004-04-19 |title=Inversionista en Fuga |trans-title=Investor In Flight |language=es |website=Nación.cl |url=http://www.lnd.cl/prontus_noticias_v2/site/artic/20090418/pags/20090418205903.html|access-date=27 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707012039/http://www.lnd.cl/prontus_noticias_v2/site/artic/20090418/pags/20090418205903.html|archive-date=7 July 2011|url-status=usurped}} According to the Pandora Papers, Sebastián Piñera's case was throw out due to political intervention.

Sebastián Piñera was also involved in the Chispas Case, on which a fraudulent buyout of the Chilean electrical company Enersis netted its participants over $400 million. All involved were convicted, resulting in a $75 million fine.{{Citation |title=Caso Chispas |date=2024-01-23 |work=Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre |url=https://es.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Caso_Chispas&oldid=157559430 |access-date=2024-02-20 |language=es}}{{Circular reference|date=January 2025}}

Between 1992 and 2004 Sebastian Piñera engaged in tax evasion through the use of shell companies, for which he was never formally charged.{{Cite web |date=2021-10-09 |title=Columna de Daniel Matamala: Prontuario |url=https://www.latercera.com/opinion/noticia/columna-de-daniel-matamala-prontuario/CJOVRMHMGNCLFPHSFFGRMOKERQ/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=La Tercera}} Due to Pandora Papers leaks, he was formally charged for tax-evasion and bribery due to selling a family-owned copper mine Dominga to his best friend through shell companies registered in British Virgin Islands {{Cite web |date=2021-10-08 |title=Chilean President Sebastián Piñera to be criminally investigated due to Pandora Papers revelations - ICIJ |url=https://www.icij.org/investigations/pandora-papers/chilean-president-sebastian-pinera-to-be-criminally-investigated-due-to-pandora-papers-revelations/ |access-date=2024-02-20 |language=en-US}}

Piñera once owned 90% of Chilevisión (a terrestrial television channel broadcasting nationwide). He also owned 27% of LAN Airlines (LAN);{{Cite news|url=http://en.mercopress.com/2010/04/21/chilean-president-to-sell-holding-in-television-network-160-million-usd|title=Chilean president to sell holding in television network: 160 million USD|work=MercoPress|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052226/http://en.mercopress.com/2010/04/21/chilean-president-to-sell-holding-in-television-network-160-million-usd|url-status=live}} 13% of Colo-Colo,{{Citation |url=http://www.lanacion.cl/prontus_noticias_v2/site/artic/20070820/pags/20070820210305.html |title=Piñera aumenta participación en Colo Colo |newspaper=La Nación |date=21 August 2007 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604015702/http://www.lanacion.cl/prontus_noticias_v2/site/artic/20070820/pags/20070820210305.html |archive-date=4 June 2011 }} a football (soccer) club; and other minor stock positions in companies such as Quiñenco, Enersis, and Soquimich.{{cite news | last = Durante | first = Nicolás | title = Quiñenco, AntarChile y Andina: las principales acciones de Piñera | newspaper = La Tercera | location = Santiago, Chile | language = es | date = 19 May 2017 | url = https://www.latercera.com/noticia/quinenco-antarchile-andina-las-principales-acciones-pinera/ | access-date = 22 July 2020 | archive-date = 23 July 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200723142001/https://www.latercera.com/noticia/quinenco-antarchile-andina-las-principales-acciones-pinera/ | url-status = live }}{{cite news | last = Skoknic | first = Francisca | title = Las sociedades en que se funde la fortuna de la familia Piñera Morel | work = Ciper Chile | location = Santiago, Chile | language = es | date = 15 May 2017 | url = https://ciperchile.cl/2017/05/15/las-sociedades-en-que-se-funde-la-fortuna-de-la-familia-pinera-morel/ | access-date = 22 July 2020 | archive-date = 21 September 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200921101343/https://www.ciperchile.cl/2017/05/15/las-sociedades-en-que-se-funde-la-fortuna-de-la-familia-pinera-morel/ | url-status = live }}{{cite news | title = Piñera vende US$70 millones en acciones de sociedades controladoras de SQM | newspaper = La Tercera | location = Santiago, Chile | language = es | date = 22 May 2008 | url = https://www.latercera.com/noticia/pinera-vende-us70-millones-en-acciones-de-sociedades-controladoras-de-sqm/ | access-date = 22 July 2020 | archive-date = 23 July 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200723141946/https://www.latercera.com/noticia/pinera-vende-us70-millones-en-acciones-de-sociedades-controladoras-de-sqm/ | url-status = live }}

In July 2007, Piñera was fined approximately US$680,000 by Chile's securities regulator (SVS) for not withdrawing a purchase order after receiving privileged information (an infraction similar to insider trading) of LAN Airlines stock in mid-2006.Ethisphere Magazine: [http://ethisphere.com/insider-trading-global-push-continues-as-former-chilean-presidential-candidate-slapped-with-680k-fine/ Insider Trading] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090610053158/http://ethisphere.com/insider-trading-global-push-continues-as-former-chilean-presidential-candidate-slapped-with-680k-fine/ |date=10 June 2009 }} Later that month, he resigned from the boards of LAN and Quintec.{{Citation |url=http://www.lanacion.cl/prontus_noticias/site/artic/20070731/pags/20070731222739.html |newspaper=La Nación |title=Piñera deja el directorio de Lan y su socio Cueto inicia apelación por multa de SVS |date=1 August 2007 |language=es |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604015717/http://www.lanacion.cl/prontus_noticias/site/artic/20070731/pags/20070731222739.html |archive-date=4 June 2011 }}

To avoid a conflict of interest, he sold Chilevisión for $160 million in 2010 to Time Warner.{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cd5079e8-b07a-11df-8c04-00144feabdc0,s01=1.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221211191211/https://www.ft.com/content/cd5079e8-b07a-11df-8c04-00144feabdc0|archive-date=11 December 2022|url-access=subscription|title=Time Warner buys Chile TV network|work=Financial Times|date=25 August 2010|access-date=27 April 2016|url-status=live}} He also sold his shares of LAN in several rounds between February and March 2010.{{cite news | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN2423692520100324 | work=Reuters | title=UPDATE 4-Chile's Pinera to sell remaining LAN stake | date=24 March 2010 | access-date=5 September 2010 | archive-date=29 November 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129091250/https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN2423692520100324 | url-status=dead }}

Piñera built an estimated fortune of US$2.8 billion {{as of|2018|02|lc=on}}, according to Forbes magazine.{{Citation |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/sebastian-pinera |title=Sebastian Pinera — Forbes |work=Forbes: The World's Billionaires |date=27 February 2018 |access-date=11 September 2017 |archive-date=29 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929190723/https://www.forbes.com/profile/sebastian-pinera/ |url-status=live }} His wealth was greatly due to his involvement in introducing credit cards to Chile in the late 1970s and his subsequent investments, mainly in LAN Airlines stock. Piñera acquired shares of the formerly state-owned company from Scandinavian Airlines in 1994, as part of a joint venture with the Cueto family."[http://www.lan.com/files/about_us/lanchile/memoria2007.pdf LAN Airlines 2007 annual report, p. 29]" {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713183212/http://www.lan.com/files/about_us/lanchile/memoria2007.pdf |date=13 July 2011 }}.

{{see also|Political positions of Sebastián Piñera}}

In 1988, after Pinochet had lost the referendum on his continued rule and Chile was returning to democracy, Piñera offered his support for the Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle in his pre-candidacy for president.{{cite web|url=http://diario.latercera.com/2011/01/22/01/contenido/opinion/11-56835-9-pinera-y-sus-raices-dc.shtml|title=La Tercera|author=COPESA, Consorcio Periodistico de Chile S.A.|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304112919/http://diario.latercera.com/2011/01/22/01/contenido/opinion/11-56835-9-pinera-y-sus-raices-dc.shtml|url-status=live}}

Between 11 March 1990 and 11 March 1998, Piñera was senator for Eastern Santiago.[https://www.cidob.org/en/biografias_lideres_politicos/america_del_sur/chile/sebastian_pinera_echenique Sebastián Piñera Echenique] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207123659/https://www.cidob.org/en/biografias_lideres_politicos/america_del_sur/chile/sebastian_pinera_echenique |date=7 February 2024 }} {{in lang|es}}

In 1998, Piñera opposed the arrest and detention of Augusto Pinochet in London, initiated by Baltasar Garzón, arguing that it was an attack on Chile's sovereignty and dignity.[http://www.lanacion.cl/pinera-y-su-acalorado-apoyo-a-pinochet-en-1998/noticias/2009-12-10/141341.html Piñera y su acalorado apoyo a Pinochet en 1998] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622063147/http://www.lanacion.cl/pinera-y-su-acalorado-apoyo-a-pinochet-en-1998/noticias/2009-12-10/141341.html |date=22 June 2011 }}. La Nación, 10 de diciembre de 2009 (part of the speech can be seen at {{YouTube|TV-Ulfo09Bs}}).

On 14 May 2005, in a surprise move, Piñera announced his candidacy for the 2005 presidential election (RN was supposed to support UDI's Lavín). He described his political philosophy as Christian humanism.{{cite web|url= http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/01/12/internacional/1137096398.html|title= Sebastián Piñera: la nueva derecha que se desprende de la dictadura|trans-title= Sebastián Piñera: the new right that sets apart from the dictatorship|language= es|date= 16 January 2006|publisher= El Mundo|access-date= 18 December 2017|archive-date= 22 December 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171222104852/http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/01/12/internacional/1137096398.html|url-status= live}}

File:Piñera Presidente electo.jpg

{{Main|2009–10 Chilean general election}}

Piñera ran for President of Chile in the 2009–2010 election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sebastian-Pinera|title=Sebastian Pinera |work=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201044812/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sebastian-Pinera|url-status=live}} From August 2009, he led in opinion polls, competing with left-of-center candidates Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, Marco Enríquez-Ominami, and Jorge Arrate. In the 13 December 2009 election, Piñera placed first in the results with 44.05% of the votes, while Frei placed second with 29.6%.{{Cite web|url=http://electionresources.org/cl/president.php?election=2009|title=Election Resources on the Internet: Presidential and Legislative Elections in Chile – Results Lookup|website=electionresources.org|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=15 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015105221/http://www.electionresources.org/cl/president.php?election=2009|url-status=live}} Neither candidate received more than half of the total votes; therefore, as per the Constitution, Chileans returned to the polls for a final run-off election on Sunday, 17 January 2010.{{Citation |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126075115772389867 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |title=Billionaire Leads Chile Election |date=14 December 2009 |first=Matt |last=Moffett |access-date=8 August 2017 |archive-date=21 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171221173241/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB126075115772389867 |url-status=live }}

That evening, the third and final preliminary results were announced by the Undersecretary of the Interior,{{cite news | title = Tercer cómputo oficial: Sebastián Piñera 51,60%; Eduardo Frei 48,39% | work = ADN Radio Chile | location = Santiago, Chile | language = es | date = 18 January 2010 | url = https://www.adnradio.cl/politica/2010/01/18/tercer-computo-oficial-sebastian-pinera-5160-eduardo-frei-4839-939610.html | access-date = 24 July 2020 | archive-date = 28 November 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201128195904/https://www.adnradio.cl/politica/2010/01/18/tercer-computo-oficial-sebastian-pinera-5160-eduardo-frei-4839-939610.html | url-status = live }} accounting for 99.77% of the total ballot boxes. Piñera received 51.61% of the votes and Frei received 48.39%.{{in lang|es}} Republica de Chile [http://www.elecciones.gov.cl/Sitio2009/index.html Votación Candidatos por País] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123074649/http://www.elecciones.gov.cl/Sitio2009/index.html |date=23 January 2010 }}

File:Presidenta Bachelet y Presidente-electo Piñera.jpg

Piñera invested an estimated US$13.6 million in his presidential campaign, which included items such as a campaign anthem{{cite web|url=http://pinera2010.cl/2009/12/13/himno-de-campana/|title=Piñera's Campaign Anthem|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217174929/http://pinera2010.cl/2009/12/13/himno-de-campana/|archive-date=17 December 2009}} and "Thank You" banners.{{cite web|url=http://pinera2010.cl/2009/12/14/gracias-gracias-gracias/|title=Piñera's Thank you Banners|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218082156/http://pinera2010.cl/2009/12/14/gracias-gracias-gracias/|archive-date=18 December 2009}} Piñera's banners and billboards carried statements throughout the country such as "Delinquents, your party is over," and "Small businesses, Big opportunities".{{cite web|url=http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09DZgcM3Zr1mQ/429x.jpg|title=Piñera Campaign Billboard|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204124017/http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09DZgcM3Zr1mQ/429x.jpg|archive-date=4 February 2012}} Piñera's campaign released a {{YouTube|iUPd_sLPZ5g|national TV spot}} featuring a male gay couple, something never seen before in a presidential campaign run in Chile. Amongst his promises were increasing education rates and improving international relations with the neighboring nation of Peru.{{cite web|url=http://www.livinginperu.com/news-10897-latin-america-chilean-candidate-pinera-says-hell-maintain-good-relations-with-peru-if-elected|title=Peru this Week|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=28 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128100959/http://www.livinginperu.com/news-10897-latin-america-chilean-candidate-pinera-says-hell-maintain-good-relations-with-peru-if-elected|url-status=dead}}

Piñera's victory meant a shift towards the right,{{Citation |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0922773120091209 |work=Reuters |date=9 December 2009 |title=Chile right seen ousting left in first since Pinochet |first=Simon |last=Gardner |access-date=1 July 2017 |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308171926/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0922773120091209 |url-status=live }} breaking two-decades of center-left political leadership in Chile and I. the process becoming the first elected right-wing leader in 52 years.PBS Newshour [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/01/radical-change-in-chile-with-new-right-wing-president.html Chile Elects First Right-Wing President in 52 Years] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118192719/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/01/radical-change-in-chile-with-new-right-wing-president.html |date=18 January 2014 }}

On 28 January, Piñera suspended his membership in National Renewal party and unofficially became an independent.{{cite news | last = Covarrubias | first = Bárbara | title = Tras 20 años de militancia, Sebastián Piñera concreta renuncia a RN | newspaper = El Mercurio | location = Santiago, Chile | language = es | date = 28 January 2010 | url = https://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2010/01/28/396062/tras-20-anos-de-militancia-sebastian-pinera-concreta-renuncia-a-rn.html | access-date = 22 July 2020 | archive-date = 17 June 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200617083542/https://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2010/01/28/396062/tras-20-anos-de-militancia-sebastian-pinera-concreta-renuncia-a-rn.html | url-status = live }} RN's bylaws require successful presidential candidates from the party to renounce their association to govern the country fairly, foremost with the interest of the people, not with the interest of a political party or particular political philosophy.{{in lang|es}} El Economista [http://eleconomista.com.mx/internacional/2010/01/28/pinera-renuncia-su-militancia-gobernar http://eleconomista.com.mx/internacional/2010/01/28/pinera-renuncia-su-militancia-gobernar Piñera renuncia a su militancia para gobernar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022133417/http://eleconomista.com.mx/internacional/2010/01/28/pinera-renuncia-su-militancia-gobernar |date=22 October 2010 }}

Piñera became the first billionaire to be sworn into the Chilean Presidency.{{Citation |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/15/international/americas/15chile.html |title=Chile Is Ready to Elect a President Unlike Any Other |newspaper=New York Times |date=15 January 2006 |last=Rohter |first=Larry |access-date=23 February 2017 |archive-date=22 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522015340/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/15/international/americas/15chile.html |url-status=live }} He offered to sell his shares in major corporations before being sworn in on 11 March 2010, to avoid conflicts of interest. Piñera placed US$400 million in blind trusts.Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2014340920100120 UPDATE 1-Chile's Piñera begins LAN stake sale process] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308191453/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2014340920100120 |date=8 March 2021 }}

The Monday following Piñera's election, expectations of sale from his largest holdings created a surge in trade of Axxion and LAN shares, causing three brief suspensions (19–20, 22 January 2010) in the Santiago Stock Exchange to ease trade. Axxion shares more than tripled before falling 39% on Friday, 22 January.The Wall Street Journal [https://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100122-709688.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesAmericas Chile Piñera's Axxion Falls 39% After Trading Resumes] Bachelet's Finance Minister Andrés Velasco urged Piñera to get the sale "sorted out quickly."Bloomberg Business Week [http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-22/axxion-falls-after-post-election-surge-as-halt-lifted-update2-.html Axxion Falls After Post-Election Surge as Halt Lifted (Update2)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604014530/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-22/axxion-falls-after-post-election-surge-as-halt-lifted-update2-.html |date=4 June 2011 }} The value of Piñera's interest in Axxion was estimated at US$700 million, of his US$1.2 billion fortune at the beginning of that week.Canada.com [http://www.canada.com/news/Chile+billionaire+president+profits+from+share+surge/2464390/story.html Chile's billionaire new president profits from share surge] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122103456/http://www.canada.com/news/Chile+billionaire+president+profits+from+share+surge/2464390/story.html |date=22 January 2010 }}

On 5 February, Piñera confirmed plans to sell his 26.3% stake in LAN airlines at an extraordinary shareholders' meeting for his main holding company, Axxion. Under the pact, Axxion shareholders have agreed to fix the price of the sale, estimated at US$1.5 billion. The Cueto family, who at that point held 25.5% of LAN through their holding company Costa Verde Aeronáutica, had the first option to purchase the stake.Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0514886220100205 Piñera's Axxion approves LAN stake sale] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308200948/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0514886220100205 |date=8 March 2021 }} On 18 February, Axxion posted a statement on their website confirming the sale of a 21.18% stake in LAN Airlines to the Cueto family for US$1.23 billion. Announcement regarding the sale of the remaining shares was pending until March 2010, when the whole package left Piñera's hands.Reuters [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1820116620100218?type=marketsNews UPDATE 2-Chile's Pinera offers Cuetos $1.23 bln LAN stake] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308125710/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1820116620100218?type=marketsNews |date=8 March 2021 }}

Piñera sold his 9.7% stake in the upscale private hospital Clinica Las Condes at a price of 25,113 CLP per share (US$48.00) through his holding company Bancard on Tuesday, 16 February. The total sale of the 792,000 shares grossed US$37.85 million and was purchased by the brokerage firm Celfin.{{in lang|es}} La Universal [http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/659287.html Piñera vende acciones de clínica en Chile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126233152/http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/659287.html |date=26 November 2011 }} The proceeds from the sale will go to paying off Bancard debt.Bloomberg [https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=aduh2KzYIPZU Pinera to Auction 36 million USD Las Condes Stake (Update1)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203175808/https://www.bloomberg.com/tosv2.html?vid=&uuid=92530e5c-5462-11ec-bc49-6e7567654f42&url=L2FwcHMvbmV3cz9waWQ9MjA2MDEwODYmc2lkPWFkdWgyS3pZSVBaVQ== |date=3 December 2021 }}

Piñera announced in February he had the intention to transfer 100% of his stake in Chilevisión to a not-for-profit organization called Fundación Cultura y Sociedad (formerly Fundación Futuro), of which he was owner.{{in lang|es}} La Nacion [http://www.lanacion.cl/cuestionan-formula-de-fundacion-para-chilevision/noticias/2010-02-08/210939.html Cuestionan fórmula de fundación para Chilevisión] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622055126/http://www.lanacion.cl/cuestionan-formula-de-fundacion-para-chilevision/noticias/2010-02-08/210939.html |date=22 June 2011 }} The foundation's board will include some of the station's current executives. Under that proposal, Piñera maintains the right to remove and replace the foundation's president at any given time.{{in lang|es}} Radio Bio Bio [http://www.radiobiobio.cl/2010/02/08/ex-fundacion-futuro-cambia-de-funcion-y-queda-como-duena-de-las-acciones-de-chilevision/ Ex "Fundación Futuro" cambia de función y queda como dueña de las acciones de Chilevisión] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210041424/http://www.radiobiobio.cl/2010/02/08/ex-fundacion-futuro-cambia-de-funcion-y-queda-como-duena-de-las-acciones-de-chilevision/ |date=10 February 2010 }} Cristián Patricio Larroulet Vignau, current Minister of the Secretariat of the Presidency of Chile, stated that Piñera was honoring his promise of removing himself from private corporations, as Chilevision will become the property of a non-profit organization. MP Cristián Monckeberg (RN), stated there was no law obligating Piñera to do otherwise and thus this decision was legally legitimate. The option above did not take place in the end; Piñera decided to sell the TV station, and after a failed attempt in May 2010 with the Linzor Capital investment fund, the President announced it had sold Chilevisión to Time Warner, in late August 2010.{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64E22V20100515 | work=Reuters | title=Chilean President Pinera sells TV station | date=15 May 2010 | access-date=1 July 2017 | archive-date=9 March 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309023514/https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64E22V20100515 | url-status=live }}

Piñera said he would not sell his 12.5% stake in Blanco y Negro, a company that owns the Colo-Colo soccer team. He stated: "We want big things and not only achieve local victories. The idea is to return the Copa Libertadores to Chile. That is our great goal."El Economista [http://eleconomista.com.mx/deportes/2010/01/19/colo-colo-pasion-pine Colo-Colo, la pasión de Piñera] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123184742/http://eleconomista.com.mx/deportes/2010/01/19/colo-colo-pasion-pine |date=23 January 2010 }} Although he will remain part owner, he will take no administrative duties or role while President.{{in lang|es}} El Diario Exterior [http://www.eldiarioexterior.com/el-presidente-empresario-37525.htm El presidente empresario] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018050306/http://www.eldiarioexterior.com/el-presidente-empresario-37525.htm |date=18 October 2010 }}

{{Main|Ministries of Chile}}

Piñera announced his "cabinet of unity" on 9 February 2010 in Chile's National Historical Museum. The cabinet was made up of 16 men and 6 women. Among Piñera's nominees was Jaime Ravinet, the previous president's defense minister; until accepting Piñera's offer, he had been a member of the Christian Democratic Party. Another nominee was Cristián Larroulet, who was an economic planning adviser under Pinochet.Financial Times [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/375c90e4-15d8-11df-b65b-00144feab49a.html?nclick_check=1 Chile's Piñera unveils 'cabinet of unity'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203053500/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/375c90e4-15d8-11df-b65b-00144feab49a.html?nclick_check=1 |date=3 December 2012 }} Piñera first met with his new ministers one day later and issued a formal memorandum calling upon all members to renounce their positions in all private companies by 28 February to avoid conflicts of interest. The memorandum also said that in regards to national heritage, secretaries of state whose affiliation with companies having direct receipt of fiscal monies must either remove themselves from those associations or honor the restrictions of their competitors.{{in lang|es}} Europa Press [http://www.europapress.es/latam/chile/noticia-chile-pinera-pide-futuros-ministros-renunciar-cargos-empresas-antes-28-febrero-20100211215337.html Piñera pide a sus futuros ministros renunciar a sus cargos en empresas antes del 28 de febrero] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213164843/http://www.europapress.es/latam/chile/noticia-chile-pinera-pide-futuros-ministros-renunciar-cargos-empresas-antes-28-febrero-20100211215337.html |date=13 February 2010 }}

{{See also|2010 Copiapó mining accident|Bicentennial of Chile}}

File:Fotografía oficial del Presidente Sebastián Piñera - 2.jpg

File:Sebastián Piñera asume como Presidente de Chile en solemne ceremonia en el Congreso Nacional.jpg from Senate President Jorge Pizarro at the National Congress of Chile on 11 March 2010]]

Piñera was sworn in as the 34th President of the Republic of Chile on 11 March 2010, in a ceremony held in a plenary session of the National Congress in Valparaíso. In the same ceremony, Piñera's Cabinet ministers were sworn in. The ceremony was also marked by a 6.9 M_w earthquake and subsequent aftershocks that upset the invitees.{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/not-the-only-one-ex-chilean-leader-among-other-billionaires-who-turned-to-politics/|title=Not the only one: Ex-Chilean leader among other billionaires who turned to politics|date=6 November 2016|work=Fox News|access-date=19 December 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051713/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/11/06/trump-trailblazers-chilean-among-other-billionaires-who-turned-to-politics.html|url-status=live}}

File:Mina San José -Piñera con mensaje de mineros atrapados.jpg rescue efforts, with a paper confirming that the 33 miners were alive.]]

Among the milestones of his first government was the rescue of the San José mine in 2010, a year in which Chile lived the Bicentennial, in addition to the earthquake of February 27 and the subsequent reconstruction of the country after it. The national soccer team participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the approval of a tax reform for education (increasing taxes), the Zamudio law (a law against discrimination in favor of sexual minorities), the closure of the Cordillera prison and the installation in the political discourse of the concept of "passive accomplices" from the Pinochet Government, the reception of the decision of the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the maritime delimitation between Chile and Peru in 2014, the six-month postnatal law, the sending of the Civil Union Agreement law, the creation of Chile Atiende, the automatic registration, voluntary voting and primary laws, the law for the direct election of regional councilors, the elimination of the 7% contribution charge for retirees, the creation of the Ethical Family Income, the Luchsinger-Mackay case, the student protests of 2011, in addition to protests in the Chilean Patagonia. He helped to create the Pacific Alliance, started recognizing the State of Palestine, participated in the Colombian peace process and celebrated the Summit between the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the European Union in Santiago in 2013.{{cite web |title=Gestión económica, rescate a mineros y manejo de la pandemia: Ocho grandes hitos de la gestión del ex Presidente Piñera |date=7 February 2024 |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2024/02/07/1120905/hitos-gobierno-ex-presidente-pinera.html |publisher=Emol |access-date=8 February 2024 |language=es |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207172658/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2024/02/07/1120905/hitos-gobierno-ex-presidente-pinera.html |url-status=live }}

File:Chile vs. Suiza en Constitución (4720681067).jpg.]]

In 2014, during the end of his term, the President highlighted the creation of 990 thousand new jobs, in addition to the fact that the country was in a position to grow economically between 6 or 7%, in addition to the reduction of poverty rates in the country.{{cite web |title=Desempleo subió a 6,1% y administración Piñera creó casi 990 mil puestos de trabajo |url=https://www.df.cl/economia-y-politica/macro/desempleo-subio-a-6-1-y-administracion-pinera-creo-casi-990-mil-puestos |publisher=DF |access-date=8 February 2024 |date=28 February 2014 |archive-date=8 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208074202/https://www.df.cl/economia-y-politica/macro/desempleo-subio-a-6-1-y-administracion-pinera-creo-casi-990-mil-puestos |url-status=live }}

File:28-12-2011 Alexis Sánchez nuevo embajador de Elige Vivir Sano (6589625349).jpg Football player promoting the Elige Vivir Sano program with First Lady Cecilia Morel.]]

The first lady, Cecilia Morel, was in charge of the Elige Vivir Sano program, and the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Social Development were created during the administration.

The composition of his government was marked by the presence of former officials of the Pinochet dictatorship. For example, the head of the cabinet of the Undersecretary of Defence, Major Mario Larenas Gutiérrez, was accused by the communist deputy Hugo Gutiérrez of having participated in the Caravan of Death following the 1973 coup.{{Cite web |title=Diputado denunció que alto funcionario de Defensa fue fusilero de la Caravana de la Muerte |url=https://cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/dd-hh/diputado-denuncio-que-alto-funcionario-de-defensa-fue-fusilero-de-la/2010-04-16/153643.html |access-date= |website=Cooperativa.cl |language=Spanish |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215222039/https://cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/dd-hh/diputado-denuncio-que-alto-funcionario-de-defensa-fue-fusilero-de-la/2010-04-16/153643.html |url-status=live }} The same deputy recalled the past of the general appointed by Piñera as director of the Gendarmerie, Iván Andrusco, who had worked at DICOMCAR, a repressive body dissolved following the Caso Degollados (1985), and who had been forced to resign.{{Cite web |title=Diputado Hugo Gutiérrez solicitó la salida del nuevo director de Gendarmería |url=https://cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/judicial/gendarmeria/diputado-hugo-gutierrez-solicito-la-salida-del-nuevo-director-de/2010-04-06/113200.html |access-date= |website=Cooperativa.cl |language=Spanish |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215222042/https://cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/judicial/gendarmeria/diputado-hugo-gutierrez-solicito-la-salida-del-nuevo-director-de/2010-04-06/113200.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Renunció director de Gendarmería, Iván Andrusco |url=https://cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/judicial/gendarmeria/renuncio-director-de-gendarmeria-ivan-andrusco/2010-04-16/195116.html |website=Cooperativa.cl |language=Spanish |archive-date=15 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215222045/https://cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/judicial/gendarmeria/renuncio-director-de-gendarmeria-ivan-andrusco/2010-04-16/195116.html |url-status=live }}

On 12 October 2010, Piñera rallied his countrymen in the rescue of 33 trapped miners, all of whom were rescued after 70 days following a mining accident near Copiapó. "Chile will never be the same", he said to the miners' foreman, Luis Urzúa, as he (the last of the miners to emerge from the cavern) greeted Piñera, in a broadcast carried live across the globe.

Despite much goodwill in Chile following this incident, he faced continuing opposition from Chileans calling for amendments to anti-terrorism laws on the grounds that Mapuche Indigenists could be treated as terrorists. This matter led to hunger strikes which started before the mining disaster, and were set to continue afterward.{{cite web|url=http://www.soundsandcolours.com/articles/chile/mapuche-hunger-strike-in-chile-highlights-the-real-problem-facing-president-sebastian-pinera/|title=Mapuche hunger strike in Chile highlights the real problem facing President Sebastián Piñera|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=29 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129160347/http://www.soundsandcolours.com/articles/chile/mapuche-hunger-strike-in-chile-highlights-the-real-problem-facing-president-sebastian-pinera/|url-status=live}} The Araucanía Region suffers from constant burnings of trucks and private infrastructure by some radical groups.

File:Sebastián Piñera, Fotografía Oficial junto a su gabinete ministerial (3).jpg in Chile's Palacio de Cerro Castillo]]

In January 2011 he faced protests in Magallanes Region in response to a proposed increase in the price of natural gas there by 16.8%. The protests left more than two thousand cars isolated while trying to cross from the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego to the province of Santa Cruz through Chilean territory. Another 1,500 tourists were left without movement in Torres del Paine National Park after routes to Puerto Natales and El Calafate were cut.{{cite news|url=http://www.theclinic.cl/2011/01/11/minuto-a-minuto-partio-el-puntarenazo/|publisher=The Clinic|title=Minuto a minuto: Masivo acto en apoyo a Magallanes frente a La Moneda|date=11 January 2011|access-date=12 January 2011|language=es|archive-date=14 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314061223/http://www.theclinic.cl/2011/01/11/minuto-a-minuto-partio-el-puntarenazo/|url-status=live}} In consequence, on 14 January, Minister Secretary General of Government Ena von Baer announced changes in Sebastián Piñera's government cabinet, including the resignation of Ricardo Raineri as Energy Minister. Laurence Golborne became Mining and Energy Minister, on 16 January.{{cite news|url=http://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=458544|title=Piñera concreta su primer cambio de gabinete al aceptar la renuncia a otros tres ministros|publisher=El Mercurio Online|date=14 January 2011|access-date=15 January 2011|archive-date=1 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001183117/http://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2011/01/14/458544/pinera-concreta-su-primer-cambio-de-gabinete-al-aceptar-la-renuncia-a-otros-tres-ministros.html|url-status=live}}

File:Barack Obama y Sebastián Piñera.jpg and Sebastián Piñera at La Moneda Palace in 2011.]]

Amidst the severe 2011 Chilean student protests Piñera shuffled his cabinet and removed Joaquín Lavín from the post of minister of education. With respect to the protest, Piñera defended for-profit activity in education and proposed to legalize it, rejecting the students' demands for the public ownership of educational establishments.{{cite web |date=5 July 2011 |title=Cadena Nacional de Radio y Televisión: Presidente Piñera anunció Gran Acuerdo Nacional por la Educación |url=http://www.gob.cl/destacados/2011/07/05/cadena-nacional-de-radio-y-television-presidente-pinera-anuncio-gran-acuerdo-nacional-por-la-educaci.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831081318/http://www.gob.cl/destacados/2011/07/05/cadena-nacional-de-radio-y-television-presidente-pinera-anuncio-gran-acuerdo-nacional-por-la-educaci.htm |archive-date=31 August 2011 |access-date=19 December 2017 |website=www.Gob.cl |language=es}} During August 2011, Piñera's public approval declined precipitously amidst continuous protests, to the extent that some polls indicated that he was the least popular Chilean leader since Augusto Pinochet. His approval ratings dropped to as low as 22% according to a CERC survey.http://www.cerc.cl {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131121073833/http://www.cerc.cl/|date=21 November 2013}} As such, Piñera's chances of passing sought reforms were seen as remote.[http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/c1e72b62-d011-11e0-81e2-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1X5tfH7X0 Teen shot in Chile anti-Piñera protest dies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203175833/https://www.ft.com/content/c1e72b62-d011-11e0-81e2-00144feabdc0#axzz1X5tfH7X0|date=3 December 2021}} Financial Times. 26 August 2011. 26 August 2011

File:CUMBRE CELAC-UNION EUROPEA (8418594814).jpg

In March 2011, President Piñera led a state visit to Spain to boost relations between the two countries. While in Spain, President and Mrs Piñera, with Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, opened the exhibition "Don Qui. El Quijote de Matta", at the Cervantes Institute of Madrid.{{cite web|url=http://www.cervantes.es/sobre_instituto_cervantes/prensa/2011/noticias/discurso_memorando_chile.htm|title=Los Príncipes y el presidente de Chile inauguran en el Instituto Cervantes "Don Qui. El Quijote de Matta". |work=Instituto Cervantes|language=es |access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=24 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024103041/http://www.cervantes.es/sobre_instituto_cervantes/prensa/2011/noticias/discurso_memorando_chile.htm|url-status=live}}

File:Sebastián Piñera - Reina Isabel.jpg during their state visit to United Kingdom in October 2010]]

As president, Piñera expressed support for the Argentine claim on the Falkland Islands, referring to "the unrenounceable rights of Argentina on the islands".[http://blogs.elmercurio.com/columnasycartas/2012/01/06/chile-y-las-malvinas.asp Chile y las Malvinas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120109014914/http://blogs.elmercurio.com/columnasycartas/2012/01/06/chile-y-las-malvinas.asp |date=9 January 2012 }}, Juan Gabriel Valdés. Blogs El Mercurio. 6 January 2012.

In March 2012, Piñera visited Vietnam with the intention of increasing cooperation between the two countries in general and with Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's most populous and largest economic hub, in particular. HCM City also called for a Chilean sister city while receiving Piñera on 23 March. The visit included the signing of a bilateral trade agreement and several cooperation pacts in education, tourism, culture, and finance.{{cite web|url=http://en.baomoi.com/Info/Vietnam-Chile-seek-stronger-ties/3/247906.epi|title=Vietnam, Chile seek stronger ties|website=Baomoi.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829161819/http://en.baomoi.com/Info/Vietnam-Chile-seek-stronger-ties/3/247906.epi|archive-date=29 August 2013|url-status=dead}}

President Piñera had a fundamental role in the creation of the Pacific Alliance, and also involved Chile in the international arena by celebrating the CELAC-EU Summit in Santiago in 2013 in which he had a discussion with Bolivia President Evo Morales on the topic of the Bolivian Government demanding Sea Access.

File:13.10.10 Visita de Evo Morales a la mina (5079049572).jpg on the San José Mine in 2010.]]

File:Aprobacion Sebastian Piñera.png

Early in 2012, physicist Frank Duarte sharply criticized Piñera's performance in the handling of the Chilean–Peruvian maritime dispute at The Hague, deemed as favoring commercial interests over the interest of the Chilean people, and called for Chile's withdrawal from The Hague.{{cite web|url=http://www.elvoluntario.com/index20120229.shtml|title=El Voluntario |language=es|date=29 February 2012|website=www.ElVoluntario.com|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215717/http://www.elvoluntario.com/index20120229.shtml|url-status=live}} Following the adverse ruling against Chile in 2014, several political figures in Chile, from a variety of political parties, also called for Chile's withdrawal from The Hague that would, in addition, imply a withdrawal from the Pact of Bogota.{{cite web|url=http://www.lasegunda.com/Noticias/Politica/2014/01/910056/fuertes-criticas-de-parlamentarios-aqui-chile-no-ha-ganado-nada-hemos-perdido|title=Fuertes críticas de parlamentarios: "Aquí Chile no ha ganado nada... hemos perdido"|date=27 January 2014|website=LaSegunda.com|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051816/http://www.lasegunda.com/Noticias/Politica/2014/01/910056/fuertes-criticas-de-parlamentarios-aqui-chile-no-ha-ganado-nada-hemos-perdido|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.estrellaarica.cl/impresa/2014/01/27/full/4/|title=Página 4 – La Estrella de Arica – 27.01.2014|date=27 January 2014|website=EstrellaArica.cl|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=2 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202100937/http://www.estrellaarica.cl/impresa/2014/01/27/full/4/|url-status=live}}

According to Hermógenes Pérez de Arce Ibieta, President Piñera had pushed for Harold Mayne-Nicholls to be replaced as President of the Chilean Football Board in 2010.{{Cite news|title=Hermógenes Pérez de Arce: Piñera interfirió en levantar oposición a Mayne-Nicholls|url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/deportes/2010/11/05/445631/hermogenes-perez-de-arce-pinera-interfirio-en-levantar-oposicion-a-mayne-nicholls.html|date=5 November 2010|access-date=20 March 2021|work=Emol|archive-date=5 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605162529/https://www.emol.com/noticias/deportes/2010/11/05/445631/hermogenes-perez-de-arce-pinera-interfirio-en-levantar-oposicion-a-mayne-nicholls.html|url-status=live}} Pérez de Arce hold Piñera, owner of football club Colo-Colo, had a long-term interest in removing Mayne-Nicholls from the Presidency of the Chilean Football Board. Marcelo Bielsa, the manager of the Chile national football team, subsequently made headlines for his brief and cold greeting to Piñera in the farewell before the 2010 FIFA World Cup.{{Cite news|title=Chile: Bielsa and Piñera, When Football Meets Politics|url=https://globalvoices.org/2010/07/02/chile-bielsa-and-pinera-when-football-meets-politics/|last=Viñas|first=Silvia|date=2 July 2010|access-date=1 June 2021|work=Global Voices|archive-date=5 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605162537/https://globalvoices.org/2010/07/02/chile-bielsa-and-pinera-when-football-meets-politics/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://radio.uchile.cl/2010/07/02/bielsa-%E2%80%9Cdisculpas-a-los-chilenos-que-pude-incomodar%E2%80%9D/|title=Bielsa: "Disculpas a los chilenos que pude incomodar"|date=2 July 2010|access-date=5 October 2020|website=Diario y Radio U Chile|language=es|quote=En una breve carta dirigida la país, el Director Técnico de la Selección chilena, Marcelo Bielsa, buscó terminar con la polémica suscita por su frío saludo al Presidente Sebastián Piñera, durante la visita oficial del plantel a La Moneda.|archive-date=9 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009031826/http://radio.uchile.cl/2010/07/02/bielsa-%E2%80%9Cdisculpas-a-los-chilenos-que-pude-incomodar%E2%80%9D/|url-status=live}} Both Bielsa and Mayne-Nicholls had good relations with former president Michelle Bachelet, Piñera's political rival.{{Cite news|title=Chileans Worry for Future After Marcelo Bielsa Exit|url=https://insidefutbol.com/2010/11/10/chileans-worry-for-future-after-marcelo-bielsa-exit/32625/|date=10 November 2010|access-date=1 June 2021|work=Inside Futbol|archive-date=5 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210605162528/https://insidefutbol.com/2010/11/10/chileans-worry-for-future-after-marcelo-bielsa-exit/32625/|url-status=live}}

File:Lagos, Aylwin, Bachelet, Frei y Piñera (14194303705).jpg

Following his departure from power on March 11, 2014, Piñera dedicated himself to the creation of Fundación Avanza Chile,{{cite web |title=El ciudadano Piñera |url=http://www.sebastianpinera.cl/noticias/el-ciudadano-pinera |publisher=Oficina de Sebastián Piñera |access-date=9 February 2024 |date=5 May 2014 |archive-date=9 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140609123854/http://www.sebastianpinera.cl/noticias/el-ciudadano-pinera |url-status=dead }} a center-right think tank that sought to play an important role in the opposition to Michelle Bachelet's government. In addition to Piñera, several of his former ministers were members of the foundation's board. At the same time, the former president participated in conferences and seminars.

In May 2014, he was invited to join the Club of Madrid.

File:Logo Piñera Presidente.svg

File:Logo Piñera Presidente 2V.svg

{{Main|2017 Chilean general election}}

On 17 December 2017, Sebastián Piñera was elected president of Chile for a second term.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-42388019|title=Conservative is Chilean president again|work=BBC News|date=18 December 2017|access-date=21 July 2018|archive-date=30 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130211717/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-42388019|url-status=live}} He received 36% of the votes, the highest percentage among the eight candidates in the election. In the second round, Piñera faced Alejandro Guillier, a television news anchor who represented Bachelet's New Majority (Nueva Mayoría) coalition. Piñera won the elections with 54% of the votes.

During the campaign, much emphasis was placed on anti-communism with the slogan "Chilezuela" in reference to the Chilean left on social media.{{cite web |title=Chilezuela: la fake news que llevó a Piñera a La Moneda |url=https://interferencia.cl/articulos/chilezuela-la-fake-news-que-llevo-pinera-la-moneda |publisher=Interferencia |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=1 November 2018 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207001149/https://interferencia.cl/articulos/chilezuela-la-fake-news-que-llevo-pinera-la-moneda |url-status=live }} Piñera received support from his right-wing rival in the first round, José Antonio Kast, in the second round.{{cite web |title=Elecciones en Chile: el expresidente Sebastián Piñera gana la segunda vuelta y gobernará por los próximos cuatro años |url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-42382186 |publisher=BBC |access-date=9 February 2024 |date=17 December 2017 |archive-date=9 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240209030828/https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-42382186 |url-status=live }} Piñera promised to lower taxes from 27% to 24%, criticizing Bachelet's tax reform.{{cite web |title=¿Baja de impuestos en Chile?: Propuesta de Piñera genera debate entre expertos |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Economia/2017/05/04/856785/analisis-de-la-reforma-tributaria-que-propuso-ex-presidente-pinera.html |publisher=Emol |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=4 May 2017 |archive-date=8 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208010457/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Economia/2017/05/04/856785/analisis-de-la-reforma-tributaria-que-propuso-ex-presidente-pinera.html |url-status=live }} Piñera promised to lead a "modern right".{{cite web |title=Piñera frente a las elecciones en Chile: 'Voy a encabezar una derecha moderna' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/es/2017/11/17/espanol/america-latina/chile-sebastian-pinera-entrevista-bachelet-elecciones.html |work=The New York Times |language=es |date=November 17, 2017 |access-date=9 February 2024 |archive-date=13 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313061559/https://www.nytimes.com/es/2017/11/17/espanol/america-latina/chile-sebastian-pinera-entrevista-bachelet-elecciones.html |url-status=live }}

File:Sebastián Piñera asume como Presidente de Chile y da inicio su segundo mandato 5.jpg

File:Presidente Piñera sostiene reunión con Presidente Trump (3).jpg]]

Piñera took office for a second time on 11 March 2018, succeeding the outgoing Michelle Bachelet. Environmental NGOs accused the government of yielding to pressure from the mining lobby to thwart any draft legislation. In 2018, Piñera buried an initiative to ban industrial activities near glaciers. In 2019, a draft law from the ranks of the opposition caused tensions. It is supposed to convert glaciers and their surrounding environment "into protected areas, prohibiting any intervention except scientific and that can benefit sustainable tourism". At least 44 mining projects will likely be completed between 2019 and 2028.{{Cite web|url=https://reporterre.net/L-industrie-miniere-ou-les-glaciers-le-Chili-va-devoir-choisir|title=L'industrie minière ou les glaciers, le Chili va devoir choisir|website=Reporterre, le quotidien de l'écologie|date=23 October 2019 |access-date=21 November 2019|archive-date=9 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209194434/https://reporterre.net/L-industrie-miniere-ou-les-glaciers-le-Chili-va-devoir-choisir|url-status=live}}

In May 2018, in response to massive feminist demonstrations, his government adopted "The Women's Agenda", which combined a conservative social vision and economic liberalism.{{Cite web|url=https://mondediplo.com/2019/05/09chile|title=Chile's day of women|first=Franck|last=Gaudichaud|date=1 May 2019|website=Le Monde diplomatique|access-date=22 November 2019|archive-date=8 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108130822/https://mondediplo.com/2019/05/09chile|url-status=live}}{{clarify|date=February 2024}} In June 2021, Piñera said that he would push for the adoption of a same-sex marriage bill, drawing criticism from his conservative allies.{{Cite web|date=3 June 2021|title=Chilean President to Push Same-Sex Marriage Bill Stalled in Congress |url=https://dailynewsbrief.com/2021/06/03/chilean-president-to-push-same-sex-marriage-bill-stalled-in-congress/|access-date=3 June 2021|website=The Daily NewsBrief|archive-date=3 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603100207/https://dailynewsbrief.com/2021/06/03/chilean-president-to-push-same-sex-marriage-bill-stalled-in-congress/|url-status=live}} In December 2021 he enacted the law before the second round of the presidential election. Previously in 2019 he enacted the "gender identity" law.

During the end of the administration, the Universal Guaranteed Pension was enacted, benefiting 2.5 million Chileans. In addition, he started the organization of the 2023 Pan American Games.

File:Cuenta Pública - Foto oficial con ministros en Cerro Castillo (3).jpg

In January 2018, Piñera unveiled his cabinet to harsh criticism: his interior minister, Andrés Chadwick, was a vocal supporter of Pinochet dictatorship, which had previously appointed him president of the Catholic University Students Federation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/23/chile-president-elect-sebastian-pinera-andres-chadwick|title=Chile president-elect reveals hardline cabinet with ties to Pinochet|first=Piotr|last=Kozak|newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 January 2018|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=7 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507130121/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/23/chile-president-elect-sebastian-pinera-andres-chadwick|url-status=live}} In 2012 Chadwick expressed "deep repentance" for this support after discovering "over the years" serious human rights violations committed by the dictatorship, while defending the regime on other grounds.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/augusto-pinochet/chadwick-por-su-rol-en-dictadura-me-arrepiento-de-no-haber-hecho-algo-mas/2012-06-11/130659.html|title=Chadwick por su rol en dictadura: Me arrepiento de no haber hecho algo más|website=Cooperativa.cl|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=15 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815131527/https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/augusto-pinochet/chadwick-por-su-rol-en-dictadura-me-arrepiento-de-no-haber-hecho-algo-mas/2012-06-11/130659.html |url-status=live}}

Chadwick and justice minister Hernán Larraín were also "supporters and defenders of the secretive German enclave Colonia Dignidad, which was established by the fugitive Nazi officer and paedophile Paul Schäfer in the early 60s". Colonia Dignidad was used by Pinochet security officials to torture and murder opponents of the regime.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeeracorrespondent/2013/10/tales-torture-2013103081121394171.html|title=Tales of torture|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=15 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814232705/https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeeracorrespondent/2013/10/tales-torture-2013103081121394171.html|url-status=live}}

File:Sebastián Piñera legalizando inmigrantes previamente ilegales (11).jpg

In March 2018, just after taking office and during an interview with Deutsche Welle, the president expressed: "we are going to continue receiving Venezuelans in Chile, because we have a duty of solidarity and I never forget that when Chile lost its democracy, Venezuela was very generous with Chileans who were looking for new opportunities".{{cite web |title=La promesa de Piñera: convertir a Chile en país desarrollado |url=https://www.dw.com/es/la-promesa-de-pi%C3%B1era-convertir-a-chile-en-pa%C3%ADs-desarrollado/a-42982146 |publisher=DW |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=15 March 2018}}

On April 9, 2018, the President announced a new immigration law{{cite web |title=Piñera busca "cuidar y ordenar nuestro hogar común" con nueva reforma migratoria |url=https://www.adnradio.cl/noticias/nacional/pinera-busca-cuidar-y-ordenar-nuestro-hogar-comun-con-nueva-reforma-migratoria/20180409/nota/3734714.aspx |publisher=ADN Radio |access-date=9 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180422133711/https://www.adnradio.cl/noticias/nacional/pinera-busca-cuidar-y-ordenar-nuestro-hogar-comun-con-nueva-reforma-migratoria/20180409/nota/3734714.aspx |archive-date=22 April 2018 |date=9 April 2018}} approved in 2019, thanks to which 300,000 illegal immigrants were regularized.{{cite news |title=Piñera anuncia en Chile la regularización gradual de 300.000 inmigrantes |url=https://elpais.com/internacional/2018/04/09/america/1523294949_287480.html |newspaper=El País |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=9 April 2018 |last1=Montes |first1=Rocío }} The "Democratic Responsibility Visa" was created for Venezuelan immigrants{{cite web |title=Chile modifica requisitos para la visa de residencia temporal a los venezolanos. Estos son los cambios |url=https://www.elnuevoherald.com/noticias/america-latina/venezuela-es/article212877824.html |publisher=El Nuevo Herald |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=9 June 2018}} in addition to the "Simple Consular Visa for Tourism" and the "Visa for Humanitarian Purposes" for Haitians, in order to regulate the immigration situation that was brought in by the previous government, but increasing it by legal means. In December 2018, the government announced that Chile would not sign the Global Compact for Migration,{{cite web |title=Gobierno se baja del Pacto Mundial para la Migración porque "no es un derecho humano" |url=https://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/pais/2018/12/09/gobierno-se-baja-del-pacto-mundial-para-la-migracion-porque-no-es-un-derecho-humano/ |publisher=El Mostrador |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=9 December 2018}} however, the government did sign the Global Compact on Refugees.{{cite web |title=ONU adopta Pacto Mundial sobre Refugiados con el apoyo de Chile y el rechazo de EE.UU. |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Internacional/2018/12/17/931170/ONU-adopta-Pacto-Mundial-sobre-Refugiados-con-el-apoyo-de-Chile-y-el-rechazo-de-EEUU.html |publisher=Emol |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=17 December 2018}}

On July 8, 2019, the government's spokesperson, Cecilia Pérez, expressed that Venezuelans would continue to be allowed in "until the country resists it." So that Chileans are well. "That means being able to have the relevant demands to be able to attend to health, education, housing and work."{{cite web |title=Cecilia Pérez afirma que se seguirá recibiendo migración venezolana a Chile "hasta que el país lo resista" |url=https://www.latercera.com/politica/noticia/cecilia-perez-afirma-se-seguira-recibiendo-migracion-venezolana-chile-pais-lo-resista/732904/ |publisher=La Tercera |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=8 July 2018}}

In mid-2019, as a result of the mass exodus of Venezuelans from their country, an immigration crisis emerged in the Chacalluta border complex, Senator Felipe Kast, a member of the government coalition, said that: "It is positive that the Government is implementing a policy orderly and humanitarian immigration; closing the borders to people with criminal records, and supporting children and women who seek to reunite with their relatives residing in Chile" and requested to "reach out to them" by directly managing that Venezuelans could carry out immigration procedures with their expired passport.{{cite web |title=Recuerdan a Felipe Kast el día que fue a la frontera a gestionar ingreso de venezolanos a Chile |url=https://www.theclinic.cl/2022/02/14/felipe-kast-ingreso-venezolanos-chile/ |publisher=The Clinic |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=14 February 2022}}

On July 31, 2019, Foreign Minister Teodoro Ribera signed an agreement with the resident coordinator of the United Nations System in Chile, Silvia Rucks, on collaboration on immigration and refuge.{{cite web |title=La Moneda firma este jueves acuerdo con la ONU que incluye colaboración en migración y refugio |url=https://www.latercera.com/politica/noticia/la-moneda-firma-este-jueves-acuerdo-la-onu-incluye-colaboracion-migracion-refugio/762676/ |publisher=La Tercera |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=31 July 2019}}

{{Main|2019–2020 Chilean protests}}

File:Presidente Piñera decreta Estado de Emergencia en las Provincias de Santiago y Chacabuco y en las comunas de San Bernardo y Puente Alto para normalizar el orden público.jpg

Following widespread protests that broke out across Chile in October 2019 and the burning of multiple subway stations in Santiago{{cite web |title=20 estaciones quemadas y 41 con diversos daños: el recuento de Metro por jornadas de protestas |url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-metropolitana/2019/10/19/20-estaciones-quemadas-y-41-con-diversos-danos-el-recuento-de-metro-por-jornadas-de-protestas.shtml |publisher=Biobío |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=19 October 2019 |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206235349/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-metropolitana/2019/10/19/20-estaciones-quemadas-y-41-con-diversos-danos-el-recuento-de-metro-por-jornadas-de-protestas.shtml |url-status=live }} as well as public and private infrastructure destroyed throughout the country,{{cite web |title=Comerciantes afectados por el estallido social anunciaron acciones legales contra el Estado: acusan nulas respuestas por parte del gobierno |url=https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/comerciantes-afectados-por-el-estallido-social-anunciaron-acciones-legales-contra-el-estado-acusan-nulas-respuestas-por-parte-del-gobierno/UZJDCDX3QBGQFBB6CTQNU4GRNY/ |publisher=La Tercera |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=11 October 2021 |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206235414/https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/comerciantes-afectados-por-el-estallido-social-anunciaron-acciones-legales-contra-el-estado-acusan-nulas-respuestas-por-parte-del-gobierno/UZJDCDX3QBGQFBB6CTQNU4GRNY/ |url-status=live }} President Piñera declared on 18 October that Chile was "at war with a powerful enemy"{{cite web |title=Piñera: "Estamos en guerra contra un enemigo poderoso" |url=https://www.dw.com/es/pi%C3%B1era-estamos-en-guerra-contra-un-enemigo-poderoso/a-50910426 |publisher=DW |access-date=8 February 2024 |language=es |date=21 October 2019 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207022048/https://www.dw.com/es/pi%C3%B1era-estamos-en-guerra-contra-un-enemigo-poderoso/a-50910426 |url-status=live }}

and declared a state of emergency, authorizing the deployment of the Chilean Army across the main regions to enforce order and prevent the destruction of public property, and invoked before the courts the Ley de Seguridad del Estado ("State Security Law") against dozens of detainees.{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/es/20191020-chile-movilizaciones-disturbios-toque-queda|title=Chile vivió segundo día en toque de queda tras nueva jornada de protestas|date=20 October 2019|website=France 24|access-date=1 December 2019|archive-date=1 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201004708/https://www.france24.com/es/20191020-chile-movilizaciones-disturbios-toque-queda|url-status=live}} As a result, Piñera was criticized for his actions, resulting in an approval rate of 9% by 24 October, according to a poll by Active Research,{{Cite web|url=https://m.elmostrador.cl/noticias/pais/2019/10/24/por-los-suelos-encuesta-activa-reaserch-revela-pesima-valoracion-del-gabinete-de-pinera-en-manejo-de-la-crisis/|title=Por los suelos: Encuesta Activa Research revela demoledora evaluación del gabinete de Piñera en el manejo de la crisis|date=24 October 2019|website=El Mostrador|language=es|access-date=1 December 2019|archive-date=8 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208132114/https://m.elmostrador.cl/noticias/pais/2019/10/24/por-los-suelos-encuesta-activa-reaserch-revela-pesima-valoracion-del-gabinete-de-pinera-en-manejo-de-la-crisis/|url-status=live}} although it increased to 13% by 1 June 2020,{{Cite web|title=Investigación de mercado y Opinión Pública|url=https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/pulso-ciudadano-aprobacion-pinera-127-mayo_20200601/|access-date=12 June 2020|website=CNN|language=es-CL|archive-date=10 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610060920/https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/pulso-ciudadano-aprobacion-pinera-127-mayo_20200601/|url-status=live}} against 73% disapproval. This consistently low level of support was attributed to losing support from officials due to failure to restore order and enforce the rule of law.{{Cite web|title=José Antonio Kast: No hay, no existe una relación con el Presidente Piñera|url=https://www.pauta.cl/politica/jose-antonio-kast-y-el-gobierno-pinera-quedo-noqueado-inoperante-e-incapaz|access-date=12 June 2020|website=pauta|date=4 March 2020 |language=es-CL|archive-date=12 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612204904/https://www.pauta.cl/politica/jose-antonio-kast-y-el-gobierno-pinera-quedo-noqueado-inoperante-e-incapaz|url-status=live}}

On 15 November te "Agreement for Peace" was reached between many political parties agreeing the realization of the 2020 Chilean constitutional referendum, having the support of the President.

On 12 December 2019 the National Congress rejected an opposition-led motion to impeach him. The impeachment resolution accused him of "failing to protect human rights" in relation to the protests.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-protests-impeachment/chiles-congress-rejects-move-to-impeach-president-pinera-over-rights-abuses-idUSKBN1YG2EP|title=Chile's Congress rejects move to impeach President Pinera over rights abuses|date=12 December 2019|website=reuters.com|access-date=13 December 2019|archive-date=12 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212222842/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-chile-protests-impeachment/chiles-congress-rejects-move-to-impeach-president-pinera-over-rights-abuses-idUSKBN1YG2EP|url-status=live}}

In response to the unrest, Piñera removed Chadwick as Interior and Public Security Minister on 28 October 2019 and replaced him with Gonzalo Blumel. On 11 December Chadwick was impeached for his role in the protests, including the many eye injuries attained by protesters.{{Cite news|title=Ministros de Salud y Defensa exponen en comisión sobre acusación constitucional contra Chadwick|url=https://www.camara.cl/prensa/sala_de_prensa_detalle.aspx?prmid=138502|date=20 November 2019|access-date=29 June 2020|work=Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados|archive-date=1 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701231140/https://www.camara.cl/prensa/sala_de_prensa_detalle.aspx?prmid=138502|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=Senado aprueba acusación constitucional en contra de Andrés Chadwick: exministro no podrá ejercer cargos públicos por cinco años|url=https://www.latercera.com/politica/noticia/senado-aprueba-acusacion-constitucional-andres-chadwick-exministro-no-podra-ejercer-cargos-publicos-cinco-anos/935035/|date=11 December 2019|access-date=28 June 2020|work=La Tercera|language=es|archive-date=30 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630224931/https://www.latercera.com/politica/noticia/senado-aprueba-acusacion-constitucional-andres-chadwick-exministro-no-podra-ejercer-cargos-publicos-cinco-anos/935035/|url-status=live}} Chadwick was banned from holding public office for five years.

{{Main|COVID-19 pandemic in Chile}}

File:El Presidente Sebastián Piñera vacunándose.jpg

{{As of|2021|4|19|post=,}} Chile had recorded 1,131,340 cases of COVID-19 and 25,277 deaths from COVID-19, placing the country in the 50th and 31st places by total cases per million and total deaths per million respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/chile/|title=Chile Coronavirus: 532,604 Cases and 14,863 Deaths – Worldometer|website=www.worldometers.info|access-date=19 June 2020|archive-date=9 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809080217/https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/chile/|url-status=live}} In response, Piñera banned events with more than 500 people{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-chile-idUSKBN21102N|title=Chile bans large public events over coronavirus fears, ahead of planned protests|work =Reuters|date=14 March 2020|via=www.reuters.com|access-date=16 November 2020|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115091944/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-chile-idUSKBN21102N|url-status=live}} and issued lock-down orders in certain areas of the country, most notably the Santiago Metropolitan Region.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/cuarentena-total-38-comunas-region-metropolitana-iquique-alto-hospicio_20200513/|title=Anuncian cuarentena total para 38 comunas de la Región Metropolitana e Iquique y Alto Hospicio|website=CNN Chile|access-date=19 June 2020|archive-date=28 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728232906/https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/cuarentena-total-38-comunas-region-metropolitana-iquique-alto-hospicio_20200513/|url-status=live}} Despite heavy criticism amidst the still ongoing political crisis,{{Cite web|date=5 May 2020|title=Chile: pandemic highlights health crisis as lockdown halts inequality protests|url=http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/may/05/chile-coronavirus-healthcare-protest-inequality|access-date=20 April 2021|website=the Guardian|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421213652/https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/may/05/chile-coronavirus-healthcare-protest-inequality|url-status=live}} Chile managed to achieve one of the fastest vaccination rates worldwide.{{Cite web|date=28 February 2021|title=Chile emerges as global leader in Covid inoculations with 'pragmatic strategy'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/28/chile-covid-inoculations-vaccines-strategy|access-date=20 April 2021|website=the Guardian|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418215333/https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/28/chile-covid-inoculations-vaccines-strategy|url-status=live}}

Following the social unrest that erupted in late 2019, Piñera's diminished capacity to govern according to the principle of presidentialism led to claims that Chile was in a state of de facto parliamentarism or should become parliamentary.{{Cite news|title=Presidente de la Sofofa cree que existe un "parlamentarismo de facto" que está "causando estragos"|url=https://www.elmostrador.cl/dia/2020/11/17/presidente-de-la-sofofa-cree-que-existe-un-parlamentarismo-de-facto-que-esta-causando-estragos/|date=17 November 2020|access-date=12 January 2021|url-status=live|work=El Mostrador|language=Spanish|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118005855/https://www.elmostrador.cl/dia/2020/11/17/presidente-de-la-sofofa-cree-que-existe-un-parlamentarismo-de-facto-que-esta-causando-estragos/}}{{Cite news|title=Presidente del Senado: "Si Piñera quiere seguir debe aceptar un parlamentarismo de facto"|url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/politica/presidente-del-senado-si-pinera-quiere-seguir-debe-aceptar-parlamentarismo-facto|date=14 March 2020|access-date=25 January 2020|url-status=live|work=Canal 13|archive-date=19 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319160216/https://www.t13.cl/noticia/politica/presidente-del-senado-si-pinera-quiere-seguir-debe-aceptar-parlamentarismo-facto}}{{Cite journal|title=Will Chile's Pension Withdrawals Cause Long-Term Pain?|journal=The Dialogue|url=https://www.theregreview.org/2020/06/24/court-correa-chile-political-institutional-response-covid-19/|date=17 December 2020|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116172607/https://www.theregreview.org/2020/06/24/court-correa-chile-political-institutional-response-covid-19/|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal|title=Chile's Political and Institutional Response to COVID-19|journal=The Regulatory Review|url=https://www.theregreview.org/2020/06/24/court-correa-chile-political-institutional-response-covid-19/|last1=Court|first1=Josefina|date=24 June 2020|last2=Correa|first2=José Tomás|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116172607/https://www.theregreview.org/2020/06/24/court-correa-chile-political-institutional-response-covid-19/|url-status=live}}{{Efn|name=fn2|Other observers claim instead the Piñera administration had become increasingly presidential as result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile.}}

File:Gobierno de Piñera presenta Grupo Fuerza Especial de Tarea de Carabineros contra el terrorismo.jpg

Piñera faced conflict in the Araucania region and nearby provinces, where Mapuche Indigenist groups demanded the ownership of lands that they consider "ancestral" and also consider that were taken over by large companies. Militants have carried out attacks and arson attacks on large logging operations, leading the Chilean government to declare a state of emergency in October 2021 and to militarise the region. Several civilians were killed as a result of law enforcement actions.Elections in Chile: Fabiola Campillai, a candidate fighting for social reforms, RFI, 20 November 2021

On November 14, 2018, the Shooting of Camilo Catrillanca happened.{{Cite news|last=Bonnefoy|first=Pascale|date=25 November 2018|title=Killing of Indigenous Man in Chile Spurs Criticism of Security Forces|language=en|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/25/world/americas/indigenous-killing-chile-land.html|access-date=2018-11-27}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2018/11/14/un-joven-comunero-mapuche-murio-en-chile-durante-un-allanamiento-policial/|title=Un joven comunero mapuche murió en Chile durante un allanamiento policial|work=Infobae|access-date=2018-11-28|language=es-LA}} Additionally, and within the context of the trial for the Luchsinger-Mackay case, a series of incidents developed in Araucanía, with riots, arson attacks, road blockades and other demonstrations in 2020.

On February 9, 2020, the trucker Juan Barrios was resting on the side of the road inside his vehicle when it was set in fire. He ended up with burns on 30% of his body and with his respiratory tract compromised. He died on March 4, 2020, and inspired the creation of a law that had his name. The main objective of this bill is to increase criminal penalties for arson attacks on motor vehicles by modifying the Penal Code. In August and September 2020, several truck drivers' unions carried out a national strike alleging insecurity in the south of the country.{{cite web |title=La historia de Juan Barrios: el primer mártir de los camioneros que inspira una ley |url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/chile/2020/08/11/la-historia-juan-barrios-primer-martir-los-camioneros-inspira-una-ley.shtml |publisher=Biobío |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=August 11, 2020 |archive-date=7 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007183015/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/chile/2020/08/11/la-historia-juan-barrios-primer-martir-los-camioneros-inspira-una-ley.shtml |url-status=live }}

On October 30, 2020, the shooting of the Carabinero Eugenio Nain occurred. He was shot to death by an unidentified armed group in the Padre Las Casas commune.{{Cite web|last=Martínez|first=Brenda|date=2020-10-30|title=Quién era Eugenio Nain, el carabinero que murió baleado en Metrenco|url=https://www.eldinamo.cl/nacional/2020/10/30/eugenio-nain-carabinero-baleado-en-la-araucania-fallecido/|access-date=2021-03-29|website=El Dínamo|language=es}}

{{further|List of presidential trips made by Sebastián Piñera}}

File:Juan Guaidó y Sebastián Piñera.jpg.]]

On February 22, 2019, Piñera met with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó in Cúcuta, Colombia. President Piñera also attended the Venezuela Aid Live concert.

Sebastián Piñera showed closeness with Latin American leaders related to his political sector, such as Mauricio Macri, and has been critical of those who are not, especially with the Venezuelan government.

On April 13, the executive attended the VIII Summit of the Americas, where he met with other leaders of the region.

On May 11, 2018, Argentina and Chile announced that they were working on the final stage of eliminating “roaming” between both countries.

On October 1, 2018, the ruling of the International Court of The Hague on the maritime case between Bolivia and Chile was read, which was favorable to Chile. The government celebrated the result along with the opposition and citizens.

File:Macri en la firma de la Declaración Presidencial sobre la Renovación y Fortalecimiento de la Integración de América del Sur 01.jpg

In March 2019, Chile hosted the first "Meeting of Presidents of South America", which was part of the first Summit of the Forum for the Progress of South America (Prosur), a regional organization that was founded in said year as a proposal from the Chilean and Colombian presidents, Sebastián Piñera and Iván Duque.

File:Presidente Piñera encabeza el lanzamiento de la COP 25.jpg

During the government, the Escazú Agreement was not signed, despite having led its negotiations during the previous administration of Michelle Bachelet, alleging reasons of "national sovereignty" in abandoning the agreement. For the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) was planned to be held in Chile along with the APEC summit, however, both events had to be canceled due to the political crisis at the end of the years, being the first reorganized in Madrid at the offer of the Pedro Sánchez government.

US President Donald Trump planned to sign an agreement with the People's Republic of China to end the trade war between China and the United States at the APEC event in Chile. President signed the Environmental Crimes Law in January 2019. Piñera also participated in the 2018 G20 Buenos Aires summit as a guest of Argentine President Mauricio Macri and in the 2019 G20 Osaka summit as President of APEC 2019.

File:Pedro Sánchez asiste a la Cumbre del G-20 en Osaka.jpg.]]

On August 1, the government signed with the United Nations System the "United Nations Cooperation Framework for Sustainable Development 2019-2022", being the fourth document of this type to be prepared for Chile and the first to be adopted under the challenges of the 2030 Agenda and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Future government chancellors ratified the government's commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Chile.

In 2021, President Sebastián Piñera, authorized the chart SHOA N° 8 not to showing the rectangle in the non-demarcated zone of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and expresses the continental shelf claimed by Chile in the Sea of the Southern Zone. Until before the enacted decree, and also after it, on official Chilean maps and also on tourist maps, Chilean maps show a rectangle clarifying that the boundary was not demarcated according to the 1998 agreement. In the map of Piñera's decree of August 23 of that year, it was not shown as such and the cartography prior to 1998 was used. Both countries consider that they have about a thousand kilometers more ice than the other, which is reflected in the cartographic difference in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field dispute.{{cite web |title=Campo de Hielo Patagónico Sur y la carta SHOA N° 8 |url=https://infogate.cl/2021/09/campo-de-hielo-patagonico-sur-y-la-carta-shoa-n-8/ |publisher=InfoGate |access-date=15 December 2023|author=Juan Ignacio Ipinza Mayor}}{{cite web |title=La otra polémica con Argentina: Chile se adjudicó en último mapa oficial zona de Campos de Hielo aún sin delimitar|url=https://infogate.cl/2021/09/01/la-otra-polemica-con-argentina-chile-se-adjudico-en-ultimo-mapa-oficial-zona-de-campos-de-hielo-aun-sin-delimitar/|publisher=Infogate|date=September 1, 2021|access-date=March 17, 2023}}

{{Further|Pandora Papers}}In the Pandora Papers leak of 3 October 2021, Piñera was named in the revealed documents.{{Cite web|last1=Lafuente|first1=Javier|last2=Martínez Ahrens|first2=Jan|date=3 October 2021|title=Pandora Papers in Latin America: Three active heads of state and 11 former presidents operated in tax havens|url=https://english.elpais.com/usa/2021-10-03/pandora-papers-in-latin-america-three-active-heads-of-state-and-11-former-presidents-operated-in-tax-havens.html|url-status=live|access-date=3 October 2021|website=El País|language=en|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003181312/https://english.elpais.com/usa/2021-10-03/pandora-papers-in-latin-america-three-active-heads-of-state-and-11-former-presidents-operated-in-tax-havens.html}} According to the Spanish newspaper El País, Chilean media organizations CIPER and LaBot allegedly documented that Piñera was involved in "particularly controversial activity". According to reports, Piñera took money from a prominent mining executive in exchange for government support for Minera Dominga – a controversial mining investment project located in an environmentally sensitive area. The mining executive in question is Piñera's childhood friend Carlos Alberto Délano of Andes Iron.{{Cite web|date=4 October 2021|title=Pandora Papers: Delano and Piñera families sealed the Minera Dominga deal at the British Virgin Islands.|url=https://www.ciperchile.cl/2021/10/03/pandora-papers-familias-pinera-y-delano-sellaron-millonaria-compraventa-de-minera-dominga-en-islas-virgenes-britanicas/|url-status=live|access-date=4 October 2021|website=CIPER|language=es-ES|archive-date=4 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004002808/https://www.ciperchile.cl/2021/10/03/pandora-papers-familias-pinera-y-delano-sellaron-millonaria-compraventa-de-minera-dominga-en-islas-virgenes-britanicas/}}

El País wrote:

{{Blockquote|text=In December 2010, when Piñera had been in the presidential residence, La Moneda Palace, for just nine months, the presidential family sold the business to Délano with a deed signed in Chile for $14 million and another in the Virgin Islands for $138 million. The amount was to be paid in three installments, with a caveat: the last payment was conditional on there not being environmental protection imposed on the mining operations area, as environmental groups were demanding. The decision on the viability of Minera Dominga was left in the hands of the Piñera government, which failed to promote environmental protection, so the third installment was finally paid.}}

According to Infobae, Piñera's family and other investors allegedly made a 1,000% profit over an eighteen-month period on the project that required approval from Piñera's government.{{Cite web|date=3 October 2021|title=Familias Piñera y Délano sellaron millonaria compraventa de Minera Dominga en Islas Vírgenes Británicas|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/pandora-papers/2021/10/03/familias-pinera-y-delano-sellaron-millonaria-compraventa-de-minera-dominga-en-islas-virgenes-britanicas/|url-status=live|access-date=4 October 2021|website=Infobae|language=es-ES|archive-date=4 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004023102/https://www.infobae.com/america/pandora-papers/2021/10/03/familias-pinera-y-delano-sellaron-millonaria-compraventa-de-minera-dominga-en-islas-virgenes-britanicas/}}

In response, Piñera's business manager said that Piñera had not been in control of his own companies for about twelve years and that he was not aware of the sale of Minera Dominga to Délano.

As a consequence of the leaked information by the Pandora Papers; a formal impeachment was launched against him. On 9 November 2021, the Chamber of Deputies passed the impeachment and it then moved to the Senate, where a two-thirds vote is needed to remove a sitting president.{{cite news |last1=Montes |first1=Rocío |title=La Cámara de Diputados de Chile aprueba celebrar un juicio político para destituir al presidente Piñera |trans-title=The Chilean Chamber of Deputies approves holding a political trial to remove President Piñera |url=https://elpais.com/pandora-papers/2021-11-09/la-camara-de-diputados-de-chile-aprueba-celebrar-un-juicio-politico-para-destituir-al-presidente-pinera.html |access-date=9 November 2021 |work=El País |date=9 November 2021 |location=Santiago de Chile |language=es |archive-date=9 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109115304/https://elpais.com/pandora-papers/2021-11-09/la-camara-de-diputados-de-chile-aprueba-celebrar-un-juicio-politico-para-destituir-al-presidente-pinera.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Ramos Miranda |first1=Natalia A. |title=Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ |access-date=9 November 2021 |agency=Thomson Reuters |date=9 November 2021 |archive-date=9 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109122926/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ |url-status=live }} On 16 November 2021, the Senate voted against removing Piñera from office, ending the impeachment process.{{cite news| url = https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-senate-vote-pinera-impeachment-likely-lacks-votes-convict-2021-11-16/| title = Chile's Pinera safe after Senate votes down impeachment bid| work= Reuters| date = 16 November 2021| last1 = Ramos Miranda| first1 = Natalia A. | last2 = Cambero| first2 = Fabian| access-date = 18 November 2021| archive-date = 18 November 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211118214748/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-senate-vote-pinera-impeachment-likely-lacks-votes-convict-2021-11-16/| url-status = dead}}

File:Visita del Expresidente Sebastián Piñera a la Universidad del Desarrollo, 8 de agosto de 2023 (1).jpg.]]

During 2022 Sebastián Piñera had a low public profile, keeping silent during the first months of Boric's government and during the campaign for the constitutional plebiscite of 2022,{{cite web |title=Chile afronta dividido el referéndum que puede archivar la Constitución de la dictadura |url=https://valenciaplaza.com/chile-dividido-referendum-constitucion-dictadura |publisher=Valencia Plaza |access-date=27 February 2024 |language=es |date=4 September 2022}} something that would gradually change and in mid 2023 he began to participate publicly in politics again.El regreso de Piñera: ¿qué busca el expresidente chileno al reaparecer en el debate público? Sputnik News

During an interview in 2023 he ruled out a third term candidacy saying that "I want to be a good former president. And what a good former president does is contribute to unity, to improve the level of debate, to favor dialogue and agreements, to denounce bad ideas - those that harm the country -, to promote good ideas and, Now, I want to become a person who puts his weight behind great causes".{{cite web |title=Terremoto, los 33 mineros, 18-O y pandemia: así fue la última entrevista de Sebastián Piñera en TV |url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/espectaculos-y-tv/notas-espectaculos-tv/2024/02/06/terremoto-los-33-mineros-18-o-y-pandemia-asi-fue-la-ultima-entrevista-de-sebastian-pinera-en-tv.shtml |publisher=Biobío |access-date=9 February 2024 |date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207235512/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/espectaculos-y-tv/notas-espectaculos-tv/2024/02/06/terremoto-los-33-mineros-18-o-y-pandemia-asi-fue-la-ultima-entrevista-de-sebastian-pinera-en-tv.shtml |url-status=live }} He also had a surge in popularity in the polls{{cite web |title=El repunte de popularidad y el boom mediático de Piñera |url=https://www.df.cl/economia-y-politica/pais/el-nuevo-aire-de-sebastian-pinera |publisher=DF |access-date=27 February 2024 |language=es |date=11 August 2023}} and President Boric himself began to call him "a democrat".{{cite web |title=Boric recuerda a Piñera como un "demócrata" que contribuyó a construir grandes acuerdos por el bien de la patria |url=https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5216196/0/boric-recuerda-pinera-como-un-democrata-que-contribuyo-construir-grandes-acuerdos-por-bien-patria/ |publisher=20 Minutos |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=8 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208013136/https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/5216196/0/boric-recuerda-pinera-como-un-democrata-que-contribuyo-construir-grandes-acuerdos-por-bien-patria/ |url-status=live }}

At the same time, he continued to actively participate in politics, proposing a simile of the Concertación, but ranging from the centrist Amarillos to the hard-right Republican Party.{{cite web |title=Piñera propone modelo de la Concertación para "gran alianza" de derecha desde Republicanos hasta Amarillos y Demócratas |url=https://www.ex-ante.cl/pinera-propone-modelo-de-la-concertacion-para-gran-alianza-de-derecha-desde-republicanos-hasta-amarillos-y-democratas/ |publisher=Ex-Ante |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=6 August 2023 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207235510/https://www.ex-ante.cl/pinera-propone-modelo-de-la-concertacion-para-gran-alianza-de-derecha-desde-republicanos-hasta-amarillos-y-democratas/ |url-status=live }} He also criticized Boric saying that: "He is not leading the country on the right path."{{cite web |title=Duras críticas de Piñera a Boric: "No conduce al país por el camino adecuado" |url=https://www.bloomberglinea.com/latinoamerica/chile/duras-criticas-de-pinera-a-boric-no-conduce-al-pais-por-el-camino-adecuado/ |publisher=Bloomberg Línea |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=22 September 2023 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207235523/https://www.bloomberglinea.com/latinoamerica/chile/duras-criticas-de-pinera-a-boric-no-conduce-al-pais-por-el-camino-adecuado/ |url-status=live }}

That same year he spoke about the political crisis of 2019 saying "the left did not condemn the violence and sought to overthrow the president" and that "it was a non-traditional coup d'état."{{cite web |title=Piñera: el estallido social de 2019 en Chile "fue un golpe de Estado no tradicional" |url=https://elpais.com/chile/2023-09-22/pinera-el-estallido-social-de-2019-en-chile-fue-un-golpe-de-estado-no-tradicional.html |publisher=El País |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=22 September 2023 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207143654/https://elpais.com/chile/2023-09-22/pinera-el-estallido-social-de-2019-en-chile-fue-un-golpe-de-estado-no-tradicional.html |url-status=live }}

Furthermore, in the context of the 50th anniversary of the 1973 coup, he stated that "Allende's government did not respect the principles of democracy."{{cite web |title=Controversia en Chile por los dichos de Sebastián Piñera: "El gobierno de Allende no respetó los principios de la democracia" |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2023/06/19/controversia-en-chile-por-los-dichos-de-sebastian-pinera-el-gobierno-de-allende-no-respeto-los-principios-de-la-democracia/ |publisher=Infobae |access-date=9 February 2024 |language=es |date=19 June 2023 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207235536/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2023/06/19/controversia-en-chile-por-los-dichos-de-sebastian-pinera-el-gobierno-de-allende-no-respeto-los-principios-de-la-democracia/ |url-status=live }} He also signed the letter made by President Boric together with the other Former Presidents entitled "For democracy, always", challenging his Chile Vamos coalition.{{cite web |title=Piñera explicó por qué firmó la carta de los 50 años que promueve el Gobierno y rechaza Chile Vamos |url=https://www.chvnoticias.cl/nacional/pinera-carta-50-anos-golpe-gobierno-chile-vamos_20230907/ |publisher=CHV Noticias |access-date=9 February 2024 |date=7 September 2023 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207235523/https://www.chvnoticias.cl/nacional/pinera-carta-50-anos-golpe-gobierno-chile-vamos_20230907/ |url-status=live }} He also met with Boric in La Moneda on the first day of the month.{{cite web |title=Piñera se reúne con Boric en La Moneda a una semana del 11 de septiembre: "Es muy importante cuidar el fondo y las formas" |url=https://www.theclinic.cl/2023/09/01/pinera-se-reune-con-boric-en-la-moneda-a-una-semana-del-11-de-septiembre-es-muy-importante-cuidar-el-fondo-y-las-formas/ |publisher=The Clinic |access-date=27 February 2024 |language=es |date=1 September 2023}}

He supported Javier Milei's successful presidential campaign in the 2023 Argentine general election.{{cite web | url=https://elpais.com/argentina/2023-11-12/los-expresidentes-rajoy-pinera-duque-y-calderon-piden-el-voto-para-el-ultraderechista-milei-en-argentina.html | title=El Nobel Vargas Llosa y los expresidentes Rajoy, Duque y Piñera piden el voto para el ultraderechista Milei en Argentina | newspaper=El País | date=12 November 2023 | access-date=8 December 2023 | archive-date=8 December 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208175154/https://elpais.com/argentina/2023-11-12/los-expresidentes-rajoy-pinera-duque-y-calderon-piden-el-voto-para-el-ultraderechista-milei-en-argentina.html | url-status=live }}

In the 2023 Chilean constitutional referendum he voted "In Favor" and also expressed at the end of 2023 that Evelyn Matthei would be the "best presidential figure" in his political sector.{{cite web |title=Piñera dice que votará "a favor" de nueva Constitución y que Matthei es la "mejor figura presidencial" de su sector |url=https://www.ex-ante.cl/pinera-dice-que-votara-a-favor-de-nueva-constitucion-y-que-matthei-es-la-mejor-figura-presidencial-de-su-sector/ |publisher=Ex-Ante |language=es |date=October 15, 2023}}

In both 2023 and 2024, Former President Piñera made his administration's work team available to coordinate aid to the victims of the 2024 wildfires with the government of Gabriel Boric with whom he had phone calls, days before his death.{{cite web |title=Horas antes de morir, Sebastián Piñera habló con Gabriel Boric y le pidió a su equipo que colabore con el presidente para reconstruir Viña del Mar |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2024/02/07/horas-antes-de-morir-sebastian-pinera-hablo-con-gabriel-boric-y-le-pidio-a-su-equipo-que-colabore-con-el-presidente-para-reconstruir-vina-del-mar/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CEl%20presidente%20estaba%20muy%20preocupado,pongamos%20a%20disposici%C3%B3n%E2%80%9D%2C%20narr%C3%B3. |publisher=Infobae |access-date=27 February 2024 |language=es |date=7 February 2024}}{{cite web |title=Ex ministros de Piñera y Bachelet acuden a La Moneda en medio de emergencia por incendios forestales |date=6 February 2023 |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2023/02/06/1086010/ex-ministros-ayuda-incendios.html |publisher=Emol |access-date=27 February 2024 |language=es}}

Since the return to democracy in 1990 Piñera has been the president with the lowest approval rating in polls.{{Cite magazine|title=Estallido social y pandemia: de los cabildos a las ollas comunes. El caso del Norte Grande de Chile|date=13 September 2020|magazine=Espacio abierto|url=https://www.redalyc.org/journal/122/12265803006/html/|last1=Guerrero Jiménez|first1=Bernardo|last2=Pérez Mora|first2=Alexander|publisher=Universidad del Zulia|access-date=20 September 2021|archive-date=20 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920212730/https://www.redalyc.org/journal/122/12265803006/html/|url-status=live}} According to diplomat and political scientist Carlos Huneeus, Piñera showed himself well-prepared in his public appearances with a good command of relevant facts, yet he failed to show empathy.{{Cite news|title=Las seis debilidades presidenciales de Sebastián Piñera: algo más que simples "piñericosas"|url=https://www.elmostrador.cl/destacado/2020/04/16/las-seis-debilidades-presidenciales-de-sebastian-pinera-algo-mas-que-simples-pinericosas/|last=Huneeus|first=Carlos|date=16 April 2020|access-date=21 January 2021|url-status=live|work=El Mostrador|language=Spanish|archive-date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201114414/https://www.elmostrador.cl/destacado/2020/04/16/las-seis-debilidades-presidenciales-de-sebastian-pinera-algo-mas-que-simples-pinericosas/}} In an interview with Cristián Warnken, Piñera acknowledged he had difficulties in expressing his feelings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.icare.cl/contenido-digital/revive-en-persona-sebastian-pinera/|title=Revive EN PERSONA, invitado Excmo. Señor Sebastián Piñera, Presidente de la República de Chile|date=28 August 2020|access-date=24 January 2021|website=ICARE|url-status=live|archive-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203175811/https://www.icare.cl/contenido-digital/revive-en-persona-sebastian-pinera/}} In April 2012, The Economist described Piñera as being considered an "inept politician" by both the opposition and supporters.[http://www.economist.com/node/21552566 Progress and its discontents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120417005716/http://www.economist.com/node/21552566 |date=17 April 2012 }}. The Economist{{Efn|name=fn3|The Chilean government responded by stating that The Economist's comment was disrespectful.{{cite web|url=http://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2012/04/13/535601/gobierno-le-responde-a-the-economist-y-califica-como-un-error-tratar-a-pinera-de-inepto.html|title=Gobierno responde a The Economist sobre epítetos a Presidente Piñera|work=Emol|date=13 April 2012 |access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=31 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160531234254/http://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2012/04/13/535601/gobierno-le-responde-a-the-economist-y-califica-como-un-error-tratar-a-pinera-de-inepto.html|url-status=live}}}}

Piñera's supporters form a cross-party centre-right and right-wing faction called Piñerism.{{cite web |title=Un estilo generacional y operativo: Qué es el "Piñerismo" y el destino que corre tras la muerte del ex Presidente |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2024/02/11/1121258/muerte-presidente-pinera-pinerismo.html |publisher=Emol |access-date=27 February 2024 |language=es |date=11 February 2024}} In his second post-presidency he had a surge in popularity in the polls; also, his successor, President Boric, calls Piñera "a democrat" as well as other former Presidents.{{cite web |title=Chile despide al expresidente Piñera, recordado como un gran demócrata |url=https://www.elperiodico.com/es/internacional/20240209/chile-despide-expresidente-pinera-recordado-97972416 |publisher=elPeriódico |access-date=27 February 2024 |language=es |date=9 February 2024}}

File:Piñera en estados unidos.jpg

File:P060413PS-0549 (9314668689).jpg Resolute Desk while Obama watches him.]]

Many of Piñera's jokes were, according to diplomat and political scientist Oscar Godoy, attempts to gain sympathy.{{Cite news|title=Oscar Godoy, cientista político: "A Piñera le faltó ejercer su autoridad"|url=https://www.theclinic.cl/2021/06/03/oscar-godoy-cientista-politico-a-pinera-le-falto-ejercer-su-autoridad/|last=Álamo|first=Claudia|date=3 June 2021|access-date=4 June 2021|work=The Clinic|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604013307/https://www.theclinic.cl/2021/06/03/oscar-godoy-cientista-politico-a-pinera-le-falto-ejercer-su-autoridad/|url-status=live}}

In December 2011, during a state visit to Mexico, a joke made by Piñera where he compared women with politicians caused uproar in Chile, sparking criticism from his own minister Carolina Schmidt who said of the joke that it was "[hurtful] to many women".[http://www.latercera.com/noticia/politica/2011/12/674-410092-9-ministra-schmidt-por-broma-de-pinera-el-chiste-no-solo-es-fome-sino-que-hiriente.shtml Ministra Schmidt por broma de Piñera: "El chiste no sólo es fome, sino que hiriente para muchas mujeres"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209143031/http://latercera.com/noticia/politica/2011/12/674-410092-9-ministra-schmidt-por-broma-de-pinera-el-chiste-no-solo-es-fome-sino-que-hiriente.shtml |date=9 December 2011 }}, La Tercera. In the joke, Piñera said that "when a lady says 'no' it means maybe, when she says maybe it means yes and when she says yes she is not a lady."[http://elcomercio.pe/mundo/1344802/noticia-sebastian-pinera-criticado-chiste-machista-cumbre-mexico Sebastián Piñera criticado por chiste machista en cumbre de México] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107175849/http://elcomercio.pe/mundo/1344802/noticia-sebastian-pinera-criticado-chiste-machista-cumbre-mexico |date=7 January 2012 }}, El Comercio. The Chilean Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence called the joke "misogynistic" and "a shame for the whole country". Previously on a state visit to Peru in 2011, Piñera received criticism for his informal style after he revealed to Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala that he was a descendant of the Inca Huayna Capac.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cambio21.cl/cambio21/site/artic/20110616/pags/20110616174729.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110619012734/http://www.cambio21.cl/cambio21/site/artic/20110616/pags/20110616174729.html|url-status=dead|title="Las Piñerías o Piñericosas siguen siendo el hazmerreir del gobierno. Piñera asegura ser descendiente de un emperador inca. Sociólogo Pablo Hunneus, senador Jorge Pizarro y diputado Fidel Espinoza le critican la escasa dignidad que imprime al cargo". June 16, 2011. Cambio 21.|archive-date=19 June 2011}} Senator Jorge Pizarro criticized Piñera's comment to Ollanta Humala, calling for more careful and respectful attitudes.{{cite news|url=http://elcomercio.pe/politica/782705/noticia-humala-pinera-descendiente-inca-huayna-capac|title=Para Humala, Piñera es descendiente del inca Huayna Cápac|work=El Comercio|date=15 June 2011|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=29 August 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829021738/http://elcomercio.pe/politica/782705/noticia-humala-pinera-descendiente-inca-huayna-capac|url-status=live}}

In June 2013, after visiting U.S. President Obama in the White House,{{cite web|last1=Souza|first1=Pete|title=P060413PS-0549|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/9314668689/in/set-72157634692105189/|website=The White House Flickr Photostream|date=4 June 2013|access-date=12 February 2015|archive-date=13 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213031118/https://www.flickr.com/photos/whitehouse/9314668689/in/set-72157634692105189/|url-status=live}} he said, "I'm going to sit at the President of the United States' desk", breaking the White House's political protocols. Alfredo Moreno Charme, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said "How many other presidents have done the same?" and Obama responded, "This is the only one," causing laughter between those there. Piñera then justified his abrupt actions by stating his daughter was born in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ellitoral.com/index.php/diarios/2011/01/03/opinion/OPIN-06.html|title=Piñera volvió a meter la pata – Edición Impresa – Opinión|website=www.ellitoral.com|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027183023/https://www.ellitoral.com/index.php/diarios/2011/01/03/opinion/OPIN-06.html|url-status=live}}

Piñera was often publicly associated with bad luck.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/noticias/2012/01/120110_cono_sur_chile_presidente_mala_suerte_psicologia_vh.shtml Piñera y los presidentes tachados de "mala suerte"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501091608/http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/noticias/2012/01/120110_cono_sur_chile_presidente_mala_suerte_psicologia_vh.shtml |date=1 May 2012 }}. BBC. The BBC listed a series of situations of "bad luck" concerning Piñera's presidency: the 2010 Maule earthquake followed by another quake during Piñera's inauguration ceremony, the Copiapó mining accident of 2010, the 2010 Santiago prison fire, the 2011 Puyehue-Cordón Caulle eruption and the 2012 Araucanía wildfires. His lapses, errors and inconveniences were labelled "piñericosas" in Chile.{{cite news|last=Saleh|first=Felipe|title=Por qué Piñera habla como telepredicador|url=http://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/pais/2011/03/07/por-que-pinera-habla-como-telepredicador/|access-date=5 December 2012|newspaper=El Mostrador|date=7 March 2011|archive-date=18 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121218084853/http://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/pais/2011/03/07/por-que-pinera-habla-como-telepredicador/|url-status=live}} Carlos Peña was deeply critical of Piñera's failed public appearances, calling his improvised visit to Plaza Baquedano, the epicenter of the 2019–2020 protests, in April 2020 an act of "provocation and contempt" and "narcissism bordering on evil" ({{langx|es|narcicismo cercano a lo maligno}}).

Chilean impressionist Stefan Kramer recurrently personified Piñera since at least 2010. This initially caused some displeasure in the Government, which filed a complaint in 2010 to the National Television Council regarding what they saw as a disrespectful portrayal.[http://www.lanacion.cl/agitado-debate-politico-por-imitacion-de-kramer-a-pinera-en-tvn/noticias/2010-07-07/105735.html Troubled political debate for personification from Kramer to Piñera on TVN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100710200445/http://www.lanacion.cl/agitado-debate-politico-por-imitacion-de-kramer-a-pinera-en-tvn/noticias/2010-07-07/105735.html |date=10 July 2010 }} La Nación. 7 de julio de 2010. Revised on 3 August 2010 In 2011, Kramer again personified Piñera, alongside his brother Miguel, in the Teletón charity event while Piñera was present in the audience.{{Cite news|title=Kramer prepara videos y omite imitación a Piñera en show de cierre de la Teletón|url=https://www.latercera.com/noticia/kramer-prepara-videos-y-omite-imitacion-a-pinera-en-show-de-cierre-de-la-teleton/|date=28 November 2012|access-date=22 January 2021|url-status=live|work=La Tercera|language=Spanish|archive-date=1 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101005218/http://www.latercera.com/noticia/kramer-prepara-videos-y-omite-imitacion-a-pinera-en-show-de-cierre-de-la-teleton/}}{{Cite news|title=Paulsen sobre Piñera durante imitación de Kramer: La opción menos dañina fue sentarse y disfrutar el evento|url=https://www.adnradio.cl/tiempo-libre/2011/12/05/paulsen-sobre-pinera-durante-imitacion-de-kramer-la-opcion-menos-danina-fue-sentarse-y-disfrutar-el-evento-1588255.html|date=5 December 2011|access-date=25 January 2021|url-status=live|work=ADN Radio|language=Spanish|archive-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203175811/https://www.adnradio.cl/tiempo-libre/2011/12/05/paulsen-sobre-pinera-durante-imitacion-de-kramer-la-opcion-menos-danina-fue-sentarse-y-disfrutar-el-evento-1588255.html}} Judging the situation, journalist Fernando Paulsen said Piñera acted correctly by letting the imitation pass, while claiming anything else would have been seen as an abuse of authority. Afterwards, organizers were concerned that they put the president in an really uncomfortable position, and Kramer chose to not personify Piñera for the 2012 Teletón. However, earlier in 2012, Piñera had been ridiculed again by Kramer in the blockbuster film Stefan versus Kramer.{{Cite news|title=Chile. Furor por una película que parodia a Piñera|url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/furor-por-una-pelicula-que-parodia-a-pinera-nid1500331/|last=Vergara|first=Carlos|date=18 August 2012|access-date=22 January 2021|url-status=live|work=La Nación|language=Spanish|archive-date=27 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227011342/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/furor-por-una-pelicula-que-parodia-a-pinera-nid1500331/}} In the movie, Piñera was portrayed as a Machiavellian politician, and was mocked among other things for his real-life impasse with the highly popular football coach Marcelo Bielsa. Some pundits argued, however, that the portrayal may not be merely negative but could have the effect of humanizing him before the public.{{Cite news|title=Stefan versus NO|url=https://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/opinion/2012/08/22/stefan-vs-no/|last=Cartajena|first=Matías|date=22 August 2012|access-date=22 January 2021|url-status=live|work=El Mostrador|language=Spanish|archive-date=3 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203175822/https://www.elmostrador.cl/noticias/opinion/2012/08/22/stefan-vs-no/}}

José Mujica, president of Uruguay, stated Piñera's low approval ratings might have being caused by a lack of "glamour".{{cite web|url=http://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/mundo/uruguay/jose-mujica-de-repente-pinera-tiene-poco-glamour/2013-02-02/113112.html|title=José Mujica: "De repente Piñera tiene poco glamour"|date=2 February 2013|website=Cooperativa.cl|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052944/http://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/mundo/uruguay/jose-mujica-de-repente-pinera-tiene-poco-glamour/2013-02-02/113112.html|url-status=live}}

File:Presidente Piñera decreta Estado de Emergencia en las Provincias de Santiago y Chacabuco y en las comunas de San Bernardo y Puente Alto para normalizar el orden público (8).jpg and the head of National Defense for the Metropolitan Region Javier Iturriaga del Campo.]]

During the 2019–20 Chilean protests Piñera made himself known for the use of a bellicose language.{{Cite news|title="Enemigo poderoso e implacable que no respeta a nada ni a nadie": Qué hay detrás del discurso que repite Piñera|url=https://www.theclinic.cl/2020/04/15/enemigo-poderoso-e-implacable-que-no-respeta-a-nada-ni-a-nadie-que-hay-detras-del-discurso-que-repite-pinera/|last=Espinoza|first=Camilo|date=15 April 2020|access-date=19 April 2020|work=The Clinic|language=es|archive-date=17 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417054036/https://www.theclinic.cl/2020/04/15/enemigo-poderoso-e-implacable-que-no-respeta-a-nada-ni-a-nadie-que-hay-detras-del-discurso-que-repite-pinera/|url-status=live}} When Piñera addressed the nation on the evening of 20 October during the height of the unrest he remarked that the country was "at war with a powerful and relentless enemy" and announced that the state of emergency would be extended across much of the country.{{Cite web |url=https://prensa.presidencia.cl/comunicado.aspx?id=103689 |title=Presidente Piñera: "Estoy seguro de que, con la unidad de todos los chilenos, vamos a derrotar a los violentistas y vamos a recuperar el país en paz y el país con libertad que todos queremos" |access-date=21 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024144328/https://prensa.presidencia.cl/comunicado.aspx?id=103689 |archive-date=24 October 2019 |url-status=live }} Some opposition politicians described his rhetoric as "irresponsible", while a Latin America editor for BBC News Online expressed concern about the impact his words would have on the protesters and on the chances for meaningful dialogue.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50119649 |title=Cost of living protests in Chile take deadly toll |access-date=21 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021185043/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50119649 |archive-date=21 October 2019 |url-status=live |work=BBC News |date=21 October 2019 }} Hours shortly after the President's speech, chief of national defense Javier Iturriaga del Campo appeared to contradict this declaration, asserting that he was "content" and "not at war with anyone".{{Cite web|url=https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/la-verdad-no-estoy-guerra-nadie-general-iturriaga-se-desmarca-dichos-del-presidente-pinera/870824/|title="La verdad es que no estoy en guerra con nadie": General Iturriaga se desmarca de dichos del Presidente Piñera|date=2 October 2019|website=La Tercera|language=es-CL|access-date=21 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021220644/https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/la-verdad-no-estoy-guerra-nadie-general-iturriaga-se-desmarca-dichos-del-presidente-pinera/870824/|archive-date=21 October 2019|url-status=live}}

However, the use of bellicose rhetoric can be traced back to at least 2018 when Piñera began his second government. He referred to a variety of subjects like drug trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime as "powerful and relentless enemies". Besides this Piñera made frequent use of words like "battle", "conquest", "defeat" and "combat" in his verbal communication. The use of such language is not unique to Piñera but has also been heard from European right-wing populists and George W. Bush. According to economist Carlos Tromben who studied Piñera's political discourse, the aim of this rhetoric was to rally the nation behind what was perceived as a common interest, but the success of this was variable. Tromben also views the bellicose rhetoric as a defensive communicational strategy aimed to gain time for a "counterattack".

File:Http 22-02-2012 Primera Dama en Sn Clemente.jpg

Piñera married Cecilia Morel in 1973. They were neighbors on Avenida Américo Vespucio in Santiago.{{cite web |title=Cecilia Morel, la mujer que estuvo casada con Sebastián Piñera durante 50 años: biografía y fotos de la ex primera dama de Chile |url=https://mag.elcomercio.pe/respuestas/cl/cecilia-morel-la-mujer-que-estuvo-casada-con-sebastian-pinera-durante-50-anos-biografia-y-fotos-de-la-ex-primera-dama-de-chile-viuda-nnda-nnlt-noticia/ |website=Mag. |access-date=7 February 2024 |language=es |date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207013058/https://mag.elcomercio.pe/respuestas/cl/cecilia-morel-la-mujer-que-estuvo-casada-con-sebastian-pinera-durante-50-anos-biografia-y-fotos-de-la-ex-primera-dama-de-chile-viuda-nnda-nnlt-noticia/ |url-status=live }} They had four children, born in 1975, 1978, 1982, and 1984.{{cite web|url=http://www.gobiernodechile.cl/presidente/en/|title=Gobierno de Chile|access-date=27 April 2016|archive-date=26 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226010715/https://www.gob.cl/presidente/en/|url-status=live}}

Piñera was also a member of the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington, D.C.–based think tank.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thedialogue.org/experts/sebastian-pinera/|title=Inter-American Dialogue: Sebastián Piñera|website=www.thedialogue.org|access-date=19 April 2017|archive-date=20 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420143538/http://www.thedialogue.org/experts/sebastian-pinera/|url-status=live}}

{{main|Death and state funeral of Sebastián Piñera}}

File:Muerte de Sebastián Piñera-en.svg

At 2:47 p.m. Chile Summer Time (UTC−3) on 6 February 2024,{{cite news |last1=Toro Jeria |first1=Daniela |title=Muere ex Presidente Sebastián Piñera en accidente aéreo en Lago Ranco |website=El Mercurio Online |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2024/02/06/1120872/pinera-muerte-accidente-aereo.html |access-date=8 February 2024 |date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207112626/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2024/02/06/1120872/pinera-muerte-accidente-aereo.html |url-status=live }} a few minutes after take-off, the Robinson R44 helicopter (Registration CC-PHP) that Piñera was piloting crashed nose-first into Lake Ranco in the province of El Ranco in Los Rios Region.{{Cite web |last=Navarrete |first=Esperanza |date=6 February 2024 |title=Qué se sabe hasta ahora del accidente en el Lago Ranco |url=https://www.latercera.com/politica/noticia/que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora-del-accidente-en-el-lago-ranco/FE3Z6LGMGZBWZNMRWFVDNUXI3A/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 February 2024 |website=La Tercera |language=es |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206225152/https://www.latercera.com/politica/noticia/que-se-sabe-hasta-ahora-del-accidente-en-el-lago-ranco/FE3Z6LGMGZBWZNMRWFVDNUXI3A/ }} The helicopter crashed about 40 m from the southern shore of the lake at Ilihue, east of the town of Lago Ranco.https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2024/02/07/1120936/accidente-sebastian-pinera-lugar-helicoptero.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207182941/https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2024/02/07/1120936/accidente-sebastian-pinera-lugar-helicoptero.html |date=7 February 2024 }} Emol Piñera had a summer house near Coique, {{cvt|42|km}} from the crash site on the opposite side of the lake. At the time of the crash there had been a strong storm in the area.{{cite news |url=https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/reportan-la-caida-de-un-helicoptero-en-lago-ranco/3YMDSWRN5JB7BAIMH3TQXUWUD4/ |title=Expresidente Sebastián Piñera fallece en accidente de helicóptero en Lago Ranco|work=La Tercera|access-date=6 February 2024|date=6 February 2024|archive-date=6 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206190148/https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/reportan-la-caida-de-un-helicoptero-en-lago-ranco/3YMDSWRN5JB7BAIMH3TQXUWUD4/|url-status=live}} According to La Nación, he survived the crash itself but the impact left him unconscious and unable to remove his safety belt, resulting in his drowning.{{cite news |title=Murió el expresidente chileno Sebastián Piñera en un accidente de helicóptero |url=https://lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/murio-el-expresidente-chileno-sebastian-pinera-en-un-accidente-de-helicoptero-nid06022024/ |access-date=6 February 2024 |work=La Nación |date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206191852/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/el-mundo/murio-el-expresidente-chileno-sebastian-pinera-en-un-accidente-de-helicoptero-nid06022024/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |work=ADN Radio Chile |title=Confirman muerte de expresidente Sebastián Piñera en accidente aéreo |url=https://www.adnradio.cl/2024/02/06/confirman-caida-de-helicoptero-privado-en-el-lago-ranco/ |date=6 February 2024 |access-date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206194531/https://www.adnradio.cl/2024/02/06/confirman-caida-de-helicoptero-privado-en-el-lago-ranco/ |url-status=live }} The other three people on board were his sister Magdalena and businessman Miguel Ignacio Guerrero with his son Bautista Guerrero, all of whom survived. His body was subsequently retrieved by the Chilean Navy from a depth of {{cvt|28|m}}.{{Cite web |work=BBC |title=Sebastián Piñera: Former president of Chile dies in helicopter crash|first1=Patrick|last1=Jackson|first2=Vanessa |last2=Buschschlüter |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68223520 |date=6 February 2024 |access-date=7 February 2024 |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207003816/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-68223520 |url-status=live}}

File:Funeral de estado de Sebastián Piñera en la Catedral Metropolitana 20.jpg

In an address from La Moneda Palace later that evening, President Gabriel Boric declared three days of national mourning and announced that Piñera would be given a state funeral to be organized by foreign minister Alberto van Klaveren.{{cite news |title=Gabriel Boric lamentó la muerte de Sebastián Piñera: "Fue un demócrata desde la primera hora" |url=https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2024/02/06/gabriel-boric-lamento-la-muerte-de-sebastian-pinera-fue-un-democrata-desde-la-primera-hora/ |access-date=6 February 2024 |agency=Infobae |date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206215139/https://www.infobae.com/america/america-latina/2024/02/06/gabriel-boric-lamento-la-muerte-de-sebastian-pinera-fue-un-democrata-desde-la-primera-hora/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Muere el expresidente de Chile Sebastián Piñera en un accidente de helicóptero |url=https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/c72gl5292rno |access-date=6 February 2024 |agency=BBC Mundo |date=6 February 2024 |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206193949/https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/c72gl5292rno |url-status=live }} Tatiana Rivera, the regional attorney for Los Rios, said that Piñera's body would be transported to Valdivia for an autopsy. Following its completion, his body was transferred to a base of the Chilean Air Force in Santiago Air Base, then transported to the Former National Congress of Chile building in Santiago, where it lay in state. A private ceremony for the family was held on the morning of 7 February, after which the public was allowed to enter the building. On 9 February, Piñera's body was transported to Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral for a requiem mass officiated by Archbishop Fernando Chomalí Garib. President Boric, along with former presidents Michelle Bachelet, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, and President of Senate Juan Antonio Coloma gave speeches. Piñera's body was then transported to La Moneda for a eulogy by President Boric, to be later taken to the Parque del Recuerdo for burial.{{Cite web |last=Martínez |first=Roberto |date=6 February 2024 |title=El itinerario de la despedida al expresidente Sebastián Piñera |url=https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/el-itinerario-de-la-despedida-al-expresidente-sebastian-pinera/XZO6HRJCLJEWRFVZWJRD57XUGU/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 February 2024 |website=La Tercera |language=es |archive-date=7 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240207103447/https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/el-itinerario-de-la-despedida-al-expresidente-sebastian-pinera/XZO6HRJCLJEWRFVZWJRD57XUGU/ }}

{{Infobox manner of address

| type = Presidential

| name = Sebastián Piñera Echenique

| image = Bandera del presidente de Chile.svg

| image_size = 50px

| image_alt = Flag of the President of Chile

| image2 = Arms of Sebastián Piñera.svg

| image2_size = 50px

| image2_alt = Arms of Sebastián

| reference = His Excellency

| spoken = Your Excellency

| alternative = Mr. President

}}

• File:CHL Order of Merit GC and Collar.svg Grand-Master (2010–2014 and 2018–2022) and Collar of the Order of Merit
• File:CHL Order of Bernardo O'Higgins - Grand Cross BAR.png Grand-Master (2010–2014 and 2018–2022) and Collar of the Order of Bernardo O'Higgins

• {{flag|Brazil}}: Grand Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross (9 April 2010){{cite web |title=Revive la Primera Gira Internacional del Presidente Sebastián Piñera |url=http://2010-2014.gob.cl/noticias/2010/04/14/revive-la-primera-gira-internacional-del-presidente-sebastian-pinera.htm |website=2010–2014.gob.cl |publisher=Gobierno de Chile |access-date=6 February 2024 |language=es |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206233844/http://2010-2014.gob.cl/noticias/2010/04/14/revive-la-primera-gira-internacional-del-presidente-sebastian-pinera.htm |url-status=live }}
• {{flag|Colombia}}: Grand Collar of the Order of Boyacá (24 November 2010){{cite web |title=24.11.2010 Colombia |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/gobiernodechile/5206149023/ |publisher=Gobierno de Chile |access-date=6 February 2024 |date=24 November 2010 |archive-date=31 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131175156/https://www.flickr.com/photos/gobiernodechile/5206149023/ |url-status=live }}
• {{flag|Peru}}: Grand Cross with Diamonds of the Order of the Sun (25 November 2010){{cite news | title = Condecoran al presidente de Chile con el Gran Collar de la Orden El Sol del Perú | work = Andina | location = Lima, Peru | language = es | date = 25 November 2010 | url = https://andina.pe/Ingles/noticia-condecoran-al-presidente-chile-con-gran-collar-de-orden-sol-del-peru-329851.aspx | access-date = 22 July 2020 | archive-date = 25 November 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201125071451/https://andina.pe/Ingles/noticia-condecoran-al-presidente-chile-con-gran-collar-de-orden-sol-del-peru-329851.aspx | url-status = live }}
• {{flag|Spain}}: Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (4 March 2011){{Cite web|url=https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2011/03/05/pdfs/BOE-A-2011-4171.pdf|title=Boletín Oficial del Estado|access-date=27 March 2019|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308225309/https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2011/03/05/pdfs/BOE-A-2011-4171.pdf|url-status=live}}
• {{flag|Palestine}}: Order of the Star of Palestine (5 March 2011){{cite web |title=مفتاح – الرئيس يقلد نظيره التشيلي وسام نجمة فلسطين |url=http://miftah.org/arabic/Display.cfm?DocId=12433&CategoryId=4 |website=مفتاح |access-date=6 February 2024 |language=ar |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206233837/http://miftah.org/arabic/Display.cfm?DocId=12433&CategoryId=4 |url-status=live }}
• {{flag|Mexico}}: Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (7 July 2011){{cite web |title=ACUERDO por el que se otorga al Excelentísimo señor Sebastián Piñera Echenique, Presidente de la República de Chile, la Condecoración de la Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca en el grado de Collar |url=https://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5199809&fecha=07/07/2011#gsc.tab=0 |publisher=Diario Oficial de la Federación |access-date=6 February 2024 |language=es |archive-date=31 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731182544/http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5199809&fecha=7#gsc.tab=0 |url-status=live }}
• {{flag|Panama}}: Collar of the Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero (5 June 2013){{cite news |last1=Vargas |first1=Felipe |title=Piñera arriba a Panamá para cerrar gira presidencial por Norte y Centroamérica |url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2013/06/05/602257/pinera-arriba-a-panama-para-cerrar-gira-presidecial-por-norte-y-centroamerica.html |access-date=6 February 2024 |work=Emol |date=5 June 2013 |language=Spanish |archive-date=8 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408053743/https://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2013/06/05/602257/pinera-arriba-a-panama-para-cerrar-gira-presidecial-por-norte-y-centroamerica.html |url-status=live }}
• {{flag|Norway}}: Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav (27 March 2019){{Cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/tildelinger.html?tid=28028&sek=27995|title=Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer|website=www.kongehuset.no|access-date=30 March 2020|archive-date=14 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200314021951/https://www.kongehuset.no/tildelinger.html?tid=28028&sek=27995|url-status=live}}
• {{flag|Paraguay}}: Collar of the National Order of Merit (28 September 2021){{cite web |title=Presidente Sebastián Piñera realiza visita oficial al Paraguay |url=https://www.chile.gob.cl/paraguay/noticias/presidente-sebastian-pinera-realiza-visita-oficial-al-paraguay |publisher=Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores |access-date=6 February 2024 |language=es |archive-date=6 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206233849/https://www.chile.gob.cl/paraguay/noticias/presidente-sebastian-pinera-realiza-visita-oficial-al-paraguay |url-status=live }}

Coat of Arms of Sebastián Piñera (Chilean Order of Merit).svg|As Grand Master of the Chilean Order of Merit
(Attributed){{cite journal |last1=Meléndez Valero |first1=Francisco Javier |title=Linajes de Piñera en Ubiarco y de Lombera en Limpias, antepasados cántabros de Sebastián Piñera, presidente de Chile |journal=Revista de la Asociación Cántabra de Genealogía |date=2012 |issue=7 |page=143 |url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=3910541 |language=es |issn=1989-5267 |access-date=14 June 2021 |archive-date=14 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614205512/https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=3910541 |url-status=live }}

Actor Bob Gunton portrays Piñera in the 2015 film The 33, directed by Patricia Riggen.

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons}}

{{Wikiquote}}

• {{Official website|https://www.sebastianpinera.cl/}}
• {{in lang|es}} [* [https://www.cidob.org/lider-politico/sebastian-pinera-echenique Biografía CIDOB] Extended biography by CIDOB Foundation]
• {{in lang|es}} [http://www.emol.com/especiales/_elecciones_2005/perfiles_pinera.htm Biographical notes, in Spanish] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911051750/http://www.emol.com/especiales/_elecciones_2005/perfiles_pinera.htm |date=11 September 2013 }}
• {{in lang|es}} [http://www.genealog.cl/Chile/P.html#PINERA Genealogy of the Piñera family in Chile]
• {{C-SPAN|9276653}}

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