President José Antonio Kast faces internal questions from his party over delays in granting pardons to officials convicted during the 2019 social unrest. At a July 7 dinner, Republican senators reminded him of campaign promises.
At a July 7 dinner in Cerro Castillo, Senator Ignacio Urrutia directly asked the president about the pardons. He noted that elderly uniformed personnel were dying in prisons without receiving the promised benefit.
Kast replied that he would exercise the presidential power case by case, based on information from the Ministry of Justice. He set no deadlines and did not mention the general pardon bill pushed by libertarian allies.
Minister Fernando Rabat reviews requests under strict rules, without questioning court sentences. As of April 14 there were 28 pending petitions, five linked to the unrest. One pardon was rejected in April for failing health requirements.
Three priority cases include former captain Patricio Maturana and captain Pablo Andrés Carvajal Díaz. Republicans view the issue as central to their electoral base.
