Economics

Two Communist Lawmakers Are Suddenly Setting the Agenda in Chile

  • The women are pushing ahead with a bill to cut the work week
  • As they steal spotlight, Pinera’s pro-business reforms sputter
Karol Cariola, left, and Camila VallejoPhotographer:Fernando Lavoz/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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In a country that’s long stood out as the beacon of free-market principles in Latin America, two young communist women are capturing much of the attention in government circles.

A labor-reform bill introduced by Chile’s Camila Vallejo and Karol Cariola, who made a name for themselves as student-movement leaders eight years ago, is gaining widespread support -- and putting the two Communist Party lawmakers in the crosshairs of right-leaning President Sebastian Pinera.