Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Saturday announced a major government reshuffle, a day after more than one million people took to the streets in a massive protest for economic and political change.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Saturday announced a major government reshuffle, a day after more than one million people took to the streets in a massive protest for economic and political change. "I asked all ministers to resign in order to form a new government and to be able to respond to these new demands," he said in an address to the nation, adding that a highly controversial state of emergency might be lifted Sunday if "circumstances permit." The military also announced that an overnight curfew would be lifted Saturday. "We are in a new reality," Pinera said. "Chile is different from what it was a week ago." The government has been struggling to craft an effective response to the massive protests that were sparked by a rise in subway fares but fueled by a growing list of economic and political demands that include Pinera's resignation. The breadth and ferocity of the demonstrations appear to have caught the government of Chile -- long one of Latin America's richest and most stable countries -- off guard. Another reshuffling At least 19 people have died in the worst political violence in decades, and there has been widespread looting and arson. Pinera, who assumed office in March 2018, had already shuffled his cabinet twice in 15 months as doubts grew about a slowing economy and his leadership. One of the most controversial members in the current cabinet is Interior Minister Andres Chadwick, the president's cousin. The police and army troops have been accused of using unnecessary force in putting down the protests. The United Nations is sending a team to investigate allegations of abuse. More than one million people, representing a range of political backgrounds and from all social classes, took to the streets of Santiago and other cities on Friday in some of the largest protests ever seen in this country of 18 million. Demonstrators carrying indigenous and national flags sang popular resistance songs from the 1973-90 Augusto Pinochet dictatorship era. Santiago's governor Karla Rubilar praised the march, saying it represented "the dream of a new Chile." Police said 820,000 people marched in the capital.

Chilean president vows major reshuffle after week of protests

The World Bank&#39;s chief economist resigned on Wednesday amid a scandal that erupted when he raised questions about how the institution was ranking countries -- especially Chile -- in a key report.

World Bank President Jim Kim announced that Paul Romer was stepping down immediately from the post he had held since October 2016, but did not specify the reason for his exit.

In his only reference to the recent dispute -- which prompted Chile to demand an investigation -- Kim said, &quot;I appreciated Paul&#39;s frankness and honesty, and I know he regrets the circumstances of his departure.&quot;

Romer sparked controversy earlier this month when he told The Wall Street Journal the World Bank&#39;s method for ranking business competitiveness of member countries had changed in a way that could give the impression it weighted the results due to political considerations.

This had a particular impact on Chile&#39;s ranking in the &quot;Doing Business&quot; report in October, in which it dropped 23 places solely due to how the World Bank was scoring the components, not because of any changes in the government&#39;s policies, he said.

Romer apologized to Chile &quot;and to any other country where we conveyed the wrong impression,&quot; and said he planned to recalculate the rankings going back several years.

His statements sparked outraged responses from World Bank economists who defended the methodology changes, and from Santiago, where President Michelle Bachelet demanded an investigation since the rankings can &quot;impact investment and development.&quot;

Romer later apologized in a blog post for creating the impression that he &quot;suspected political manipulation or bias&quot; was at play. He said he simply intended to raise the need for the institution to &quot;do a better job of explaining what our numbers mean.&quot;

Kim said Romer will be returning to his position as an economics professor at New York University.

&quot;Paul is an accomplished economist and insightful individual, and we have had many good discussions on geopolitical issues, urbanization, and the future of work,&quot; Kim said.

The World Bank's chief economist resigned when he raised questions about how the institution was ranking countries -- especially Chile

The World Bank's chief economist resigned on Wednesday amid a scandal that erupted when he raised questions about how the institution was ranking countries -- especially Chile -- in a key report. World Bank President Jim Kim announced that Paul Romer was stepping down immediately from the post he had held since October 2016, but did not specify the reason for his exit. In his only reference to the recent dispute -- which prompted Chile to demand an investigation -- Kim said, "I appreciated Paul's frankness and honesty, and I know he regrets the circumstances of his departure." Romer sparked controversy earlier this month when he told The Wall Street Journal the World Bank's method for ranking business competitiveness of member countries had changed in a way that could give the impression it weighted the results due to political considerations. This had a particular impact on Chile's ranking in the "Doing Business" report in October, in which it dropped 23 places solely due to how the World Bank was scoring the components, not because of any changes in the government's policies, he said. Romer apologized to Chile "and to any other country where we conveyed the wrong impression," and said he planned to recalculate the rankings going back several years. His statements sparked outraged responses from World Bank economists who defended the methodology changes, and from Santiago, where President Michelle Bachelet demanded an investigation since the rankings can "impact investment and development." Romer later apologized in a blog post for creating the impression that he "suspected political manipulation or bias" was at play. He said he simply intended to raise the need for the institution to "do a better job of explaining what our numbers mean." Kim said Romer will be returning to his position as an economics professor at New York University. "Paul is an accomplished economist and insightful individual, and we have had many good discussions on geopolitical issues, urbanization, and the future of work," Kim said.

World Bank chief economist resigns amid Chile uproar

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Chilean president vows major reshuffle after week of protests

World Bank chief economist resigns amid Chile uproar