SANTIAGO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Jorge Pizarro from the Christian Democratic Party on Wednesday replaced Camilo Escalona of the Socialist Party as president of the Senate.
"We must promote dialogue and political debates on those future issues that aim to resolve the mistrust and inequities that have taken hold of the country," said Pizarro in a speech.
The Senate's real duty is to serve society and especially the new middle class and the most vulnerable groups, Pizarro added.
Education cannot depend solely on family's ability to pay, which only enlarges inequalities. Chile has to substantially improve the quality of education at the elementary level as well as the middle level, especially in poor and middle class neighborhoods, Pizarro said.
Both Pizarro and Escalona are from the Concert of Parties for Democracy, Chile's opposition coalition.
Pizarro won 18 votes against the 13 votes obtained by rival Jaime Orpis from the Independent Democratic Union, which is part of the ruling conservative Coalition for Change.
Jose Antonio Gomez of the Radical Party, also a member of the Concert of Parties for Democracy, was elected Senate vice president.
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