Chile's Socialist Party announced on Wednesday that it will freeze relations with the ruling alliance, responding to criticisms from the Communist Party and Broad Front over its support for the Nain-Retamal law, which enabled the acquittal of former carabinero Claudio Crespo in the Gustavo Gatica case. PS president Paulina Vodanovic accused the PC of disloyalty and the FA of abandoning President Boric. The party even considered leaving the government but opted to review it cautiously.
In an internal meeting on Tuesday night, the Socialist Party (PS) directorate gathered with its bench of deputies for nearly two hours, expressing unanimous fury over attacks from the Communist Party (PC) and Broad Front (FA). Socialists backed in 2023 the articles of the Nain-Retamal law promoted by the Executive, including 'privileged legitimate defense' used to acquit Claudio Crespo in the Gustavo Gatica case from the 2019 social unrest. 'The PC has acted disloyally, shifting the costs of decisions they themselves supported through their ministers,' Vodanovic stated at a press point in Congress, surrounded by PS parliamentarians. She added that the FA is 'abandoning' President Gabriel Boric and that the PS will not join the expanded political committee or the officialist conclave on January 23. Deputies like Raúl Leiva and Daniel Manouchehri labeled the criticisms as disloyalty to the government and a 'bomb' to left-wing unity. While some leaders suggested reflecting on staying in Boric's government, ending in two months, Vodanovic stressed the PS is a 'responsible left' and will work until the end but won't tolerate ally attacks. President Boric, in a CNN interview, clarified the law is a fusion of parliamentary initiatives, not the Executive's, further irking the PS, which recalled Minister Camila Vallejo's (PC) role in its passage. Other parties like the PPD and Radical also announced internal reflection and solidarity with the PS, while the FA, through Jorge Brito and Constanza Martínez, called for maturity and denied directly blaming the PS. This rift deepens historical coalition divisions, from the social outbreak to issues like pardons and reforms.
