Authoritarian? Debate Continues Over Government’s Constitutional Reform

Chile’s constitutional reform debate is returning to Congress with one question dominating the discussion: would a proposed security measure protect public order, or give the presidency excessive power?

The government’s proposal would add certain public-security provisions to the Constitution. Its most disputed element is a new state of constitutional exception that would allow the president to restrict freedoms in limited areas of the country for up to 240 days without consulting Parliament.

Opposition lawmakers and some sectors of the governing coalition have called provisions of the reform “illiberal” or outright “authoritarian.” The debate has intensified as lawmakers begin a new stage of consideration after constituency week.

Panelists on the program ‘El Primer Café’ highlighted their differences over how the reform should be assessed. The discussion followed an interview in which President José Antonio Kast described the proposed new state of exception on Cooperativa.