José Antonio Kast's government withdrew 47 environmental and electrical supreme decrees from the Comptroller General of the Republic that were pushed by the previous administration. The ministries of Environment and Energy describe it as a routine review. Critics see it as a setback.
On March 12, the Ministry of Environment, led by Francisca Toledo, withdrew 43 processes for review from the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR). These supreme decrees date from 2023 to 2026: one from 2023, three from 2024, 28 from 2025, and 11 from 2026. Among them are initiatives like the Parque Nacional Mar de Juan Fernández, Nazca Desventuradas II, a natural monument for the Humboldt penguin, Reserva Nacional Salar de Pedernales, and an emissions standard for thermoelectric plants. Subsecretary José Vial Barros signed the withdrawal document. The Ministry of Energy, under Ximena Rincón, withdrew four similar processes from 2025 and 2026, including changes to regulations on small-scale generation, coordination of the National Electric System, and solid biofuels. Both ministries describe it as a routine practice at the start of a term to ensure technical standards, part of President Kast's internal audit plan. They plan to resubmit them soon. They noted that Gabriel Boric's government filed 21 decrees in March, 13 on its last day. Former minister Pablo Badenier called it 'a bit inelegant,' though common. Ex-subsecretary Rodrigo Benítez deemed it reasonable given last-minute filings. Marcelo Mena said all decrees from a prior government had never been withdrawn before. Senator Yasna Provoste (DC) warned it is not review but a 'historic setback.' Additionally, the government withdrew nominations for environmental tribunal ministers proposed earlier.
