Klaus Kastner Gmunden, Austria Dec. 17: It is ridiculous to warn that Chile will return to authoritarian rule after 35 years of democracy. For the vast majority of these 35 years, Chile was ruled by a left-of-center government, the last one even very much left. The last 3 elections started with a Right, then a Left and now a Right again. If that is not democracy alive, I don't know what is. Many Chileans, perhaps even the silent majority, have positive memories of the stability and progress during the Pinochet years. That is simply a correct memory and has nothing to do with authoritarian/fascist longings. Andres Velasco, the well-known Chilean economist and former minister, explained why the current government was thrown out and predicted that the same thing will probably happen to the government at the next elections because Kast has made promises which he will not be able to fulfill. So let democracy be alive!

 

Pinochet Is Smiling in His Grave

By Ariel Dorfman

Mr. Dorfman, a Chilean American writer, is the author of the play “Death and the Maiden” and the novels “The Suicide Museum” and “Allegro.”