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A woman dressed in a Catrina costume flies a Mapuche indigenous flag during an anti-government protest in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Chile has been facing days of unrest, triggered by a relatively minor increase in subway fares. The protests have shaken a nation noted for economic stability over the past decades, which has seen steadily declining poverty despite persistent high rates of inequality. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

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A man rides a bicycle near a traffic sign that was toppled by anti-government protesters during clashes with the police, in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera cancelled two major international summits after nearly two weeks of nationwide protests over economic inequality that have left at least 20 dead and damaged businesses and infrastructure around the country.(AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

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A child walks in an evil clown Halloween costume in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Chile has been facing days of unrest, triggered by a relatively minor increase in subway fares. The protests have shaken a nation noted for economic stability over the past decades, which has seen steadily declining poverty despite persistent high rates of inequality. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

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Children dressed in Halloween costumes give candy to a police officer, after weeks of anti-government protests in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Chile has been facing days of unrest, triggered by a relatively minor increase in subway fares. The protests have shaken a nation noted for economic stability over the past decades, which has seen steadily declining poverty despite persistent high rates of inequality. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

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Children dressed in Halloween costumes walk next to a store shutter with graffiti that reads in Spanish "It's not 30 pesos. It's 30 years" after weeks of anti-government protests in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Chile has been facing days of unrest, triggered by a relatively minor increase in subway fares. The protests have shaken a nation noted for economic stability over the past decades, which has seen steadily declining poverty despite persistent high rates of inequality. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

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Children dressed in Halloween costumes walk past walls covered in graffiti that reads in Spanish "It's not 30 pesos. It's 30 years" and "Rapists," after weeks of anti-government protests in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Chile has been facing days of unrest, triggered by a relatively minor increase in subway fares. The protests have shaken a nation noted for economic stability over the past decades, which has seen steadily declining poverty despite persistent high rates of inequality. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

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A street vendor wearing a mask sells cold water and beer during an anti-government protest in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Chile has been facing days of unrest, triggered by a relatively minor increase in subway fares. The protests have shaken a nation noted for economic stability over the past decades, which has seen steadily declining poverty despite persistent high rates of inequality. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Thousands march in Chile protest after summit cancellations

By Associated Press AP

PUBLISHED 5:12 PM ET Oct. 31, 2019

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Thousands of young Chileans are marching to demand improved social services as government and opposition leaders debate the response to nearly two weeks of protests that have paralyzed much of the capital and forced the cancellation of two major international summits.

The march on the presidential palace was peaceful Thursday afternoon on the first day of a four-day holiday weekend in Chile. Some observers said the massive waves of protests of the last two weeks appear to be at least temporarily losing momentum.

In a meeting earlier in the day, President Sebastián Piñera's finance and interior ministers proposed changes to business tax breaks, which opposition leaders called insufficient.

A proposed hike in subway has spawned 14 days of protests calling for deep-rooted changes.