With little faith, Congress presses on with plan for a September 17 holiday

Chile’s Congress is moving ahead with a proposal for an extra national holiday on Thursday, September 17, 2026, even as its backers concede that the bill has little room to succeed.

The Interior Government Commission of the Chamber of Deputies approved the measure in principle on Tuesday by nine votes to four. The proposal came from left-wing lawmakers seeking to extend the country’s Fiestas Patrias celebrations, since the non-waivable holidays on September 18 and 19 will fall on a Friday and Saturday next year.

The bill’s promoters, led by Communist Party lawmakers Marcos Barraza and Nathalie Castillo, argue that the additional day would encourage rest and family gatherings. They also say it could benefit domestic tourism, hotels, restaurants, retailers, micro, small and medium-sized businesses, and local economies.

The commission had already agreed to invite Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz to explain the initiative’s economic implications and possible effects. But the tight deadlines have tempered expectations, with even lawmakers who support the idea acknowledging that its chances of passage are slim.