Articles and notes about Chile.
The opposition promised a constitutional accusation against Justice Minister Fernando Rabat over 56 commutations of sentence for sexual crimes against minors, and did not file it in the week its own calendar had set. The votes are the reason: 78 are needed, 62 are counted, and 14 deputies of the Partido de la Gente hold the difference.
Party presidents and opposition lawmakers delivered a letter to President José Antonio Kast at the La Moneda palace demanding the removal of Justice Minister Fernando Rabat. The case involves the reduction of sentences for 56 people convicted of sexual abuse against minors, which has already cost the ministry’s undersecretary, Luis Silva, his post. In a special session of the Chamber of Deputies, Rabat acknowledged “a gap in the procedure, by not listening to the victims,” and the opposition announced a constitutional accusation against him.
A Criteria poll found 25% approval and 65% disapproval for José Antonio Kast's government, his worst figures since taking office. The previous measurement, on October 25, showed 27% approval and 64% disapproval, until then his lowest levels, and the gap between approval and disapproval reached 40 points.
Chile’s vice-minister of justice resigned after the disclosure of sentence reductions granted to people convicted of abuse against minors, according to Opera Mundi. Between March 11 and September 13 this year, the justice ministry authorized 56 sentence reductions for people convicted of sexual crimes against minors: 29 for rape and 27 for sexual abuse, according to BioBioChile.