I witnessed the Pinochet regime’s fall. It offers hope – and a warning – for the US | Ariel Dorfman

November's midterms bring parallels with a moment in October 1988. But Pinochet's exit wasn't the end of his influence

A malignant, monomaniacal president, deeply unpopular, faces an election that could restrict his power and end his domination of his country.

It is true that, to influence the outcome, he counts on a supine supreme court and his ability to legislate through executive decrees, as well as an onslaught of fake news accusing his opponents of being unpatriotic communists, true that he has colossal financial support from an entrenched oligarchy that has thrived thanks to his rightwing neoliberal policies, true that he has gone out of his way to limit the freedom of those who vote and true that he has absolute command of the armed forces.