The supreme tribunal of Chile's Christian Democratic Party suspended former President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle's membership over his meeting with José Antonio Kast. Party dissidents argue the measure is unconstitutional for bypassing regional tribunals. The decision has sparked internal controversy ahead of the presidential runoff.
Last night, the supreme tribunal of the Christian Democratic Party (DC) met to examine a complaint filed by the national board against former President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle. The grievance stemmed from Frei's meeting with right-wing candidate José Antonio Kast, to the detriment of left-wing presidential hopeful Jeannette Jara. As a precautionary measure, the tribunal suspended Frei's membership; he is the son of the party's founder, Eduardo Frei Montalva. Frei, currently traveling in Asia until December 6, will submit his defenses later.
The resolution quickly drew reactions from party members. Rodrigo Albornoz, DC president in the Metropolitan Region and a representative of the dissidence against Francisco Huenchumilla's board, called the measure an "unconstitutional act". According to Albornoz, under the political parties law, disciplinary complaints must be heard in first instance by regional tribunals, not the supreme one, which serves as an appeals body. "This violates the constitutional principle of being judged by the natural judge, not special commissions," the lawyer explained.
Albornoz referenced a 2022 precedent when he represented Fuad Chahin in a similar case. The Santiago Court of Appeals upheld an appeal and declared the supreme tribunal's suspension unconstitutional, setting jurisprudence. In the April 4, 2023, ruling, it stated that "the sanction imposed on the plaintiff was pronounced by a tribunal other than the one corresponding to handle its substantiation, flagrantly infringing the procedural norms established in the statutes (...), which designate the respective regional tribunal as competent for first-instance complaints against its members." National counselor Nicolás Preuss criticized the decision as "political imprudence" and suggested political alternatives over the sanction.
Some militants defend the action, arguing that with most regional tribunals not yet constituted, jurisdiction rises to the supreme level. They also cite article 69 of the party statute, which assigns the supreme tribunal to resolve complaints against allies for indiscipline. This morning, Jeannette Jara remarked: "The DC has been very clear: we continue working together. And what former President Frei did is his right. That's democracy." Meanwhile, José Antonio Kast questioned: "A political party cannot question a simple meeting. What if I ask Michelle Bachelet for a meeting to talk about the future? (...) Would they sanction her for meeting with me too?" Kast stressed that Frei issued no statement on his vote.