President José Antonio Kast called for unity to pardon uniformed personnel convicted for actions during the social outbreak, but opposition lawmakers rejected it, arguing it creates impunity.
In an interview with La Tercera on Sunday, President José Antonio Kast addressed the possibility of pardons for uniformed personnel convicted for their actions during the social outbreak. “We will surprise by making a call for unity,” he said. He added: “We have all gone through difficult times. When do we overcome the tensions? At some point we have to overcome the tensions,” emphasizing dialogue: “I at least believe that when people sit down, talk, look at each other, dialogue, they can find paths to solution. Or we will live forever in the trenches.” Opposition lawmakers sharply criticized the proposal. Frente Amplio deputy Carolina Tello stated: “Chile needs unity, but not in any way. We cannot talk about reunion while pushing pardons for uniformed personnel convicted of human rights violations, because that does not build peace, but deepens impunity and injustice.” Deputy Matías Fernández, from the same party, accused Kast of contradiction: “José Antonio Kast lives in eternal contradiction. On one hand, while he strongly criticized the pardons given to protesters during the 2019 social mobilization, now he seeks to advance a pardon project for criminals who violated human rights.” Lorena Fries, party bloc leader, warned about international treaties: “It is concerning that President Kast disregards the international treaties Chile has signed on this matter, which require sanctioning human rights violations.” Socialist Party deputy César Valenzuela said: “Unfortunately, it is the President acting as a trench leader.” Communist Party deputy Lorena Pizarro called it “gross and obscene impunity.” Days earlier, on T13, Kast had referred to the outbreak as “a moment of extreme violence.”
