Chile's leader pushes emergency laws, sparking rights fears

Chilean President José Antonio Kast, who rose to power on promises of a tough stance against criminals, is facing internal dissent over a new proposal for extensive emergency laws. The legislation, inspired by El Salvador's leader Nayib Bukele, aims to grant the state increased powers in crime fighting. Recent government images showed the transfer of nearly 300 high-risk prisoners to a new facility, with Kast declaring, "We are sending a clear message to criminals that things have changed. We will hunt you down, and we will find you."

However, after supporters expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of reform since the government took office in March, Kast's administration has accelerated its efforts. The new legislative package, introduced in early August, includes measures such as permanent police deployments in certain areas, stricter penalties for gang membership, and relaxed restrictions on police use of force. Crucially, it proposes constitutional changes that would allow the president to declare a state of emergency for up to eight months without congressional approval.

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We are sending a clear message to criminals that things have changed. We will hunt you down, and we will find you.

Experts have condemned the proposal as excessively far-reaching and a threat to democratic principles, particularly given Chile's history under Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship. The plan has also created divisions within the ruling coalition, with several parties demanding modifications. Luciano Cruz-Coke, leader of the center-right Evópoli party, questioned the "false assumption that people are willing to sacrifice everything for security." Kast has dismissed criticism that he is steering the country in an "illiberal" direction but has indicated a willingness to adjust certain aspects, such as the duration of the state of emergency, stating, "That can be modified, if that is the problem."

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That can be modified, if that is the problem.