Chamber approves Evangelical holiday on October 31st

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SANTIAGO.- With 54 votes, the Chamber of Deputies approved the legislative bill today to declare October 31st a national holiday in honor of the Evangelical and Protestant churches.

Now, the legal initiative, which seeks to recognize the more than 3 million followers living in Chile, has been approved to be instated as a law by the government.

Following the Chamber's approval, the President of the Republic will have to sign the official law decree, which will later be published in the Diario Oficial.

If this is completed before October 31st of this year, the holiday will become valid immediately. If not, it will be observed beginning in 2009.

Speaking on the matter, the Minister of the Presidency, José Antonio Viera Gallo, has stated that the government will do everything in its power to ensure that the measure becomes valid as of this year.

The Chamber also decided that the national holiday on October 31st will be transferable, so as not to affect the nation's economy with one less work day.