Chilean opposition: Kast's security plan misses organized crime's finances

Chilean opposition parties have voiced strong criticism of President José Antonio Kast's newly announced security agenda, arguing it fails to strike at the financial heart of organized crime. While the government unveiled 30 projects aimed at combating organized crime and terrorism, including a registry of criminal groups and special prison regimes, opposition figures lament the absence of key measures.

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The great absentee of this security mega-reform is the lifting of bank secrecy. You cannot pursue the money trail, you cannot attack the heart of organized crime if you do not weaken its economic power.

The central point of contention is the omission of lifting bank secrecy. Opposition lawmakers, including Raúl Soto, president of the center-left Party for Democracy, emphasize that without this tool, authorities cannot effectively track illicit money flows or weaken the economic power of criminal organizations. "The great absentee of this security mega-reform is the lifting of bank secrecy," Soto stated, arguing that "you cannot pursue the money trail, you cannot attack the heart of organized crime if you do not weaken its economic power."

The Communist Party echoed these sentiments, expressing willingness to discuss measures to strengthen criminal intelligence but accusing the executive of lacking the will to advance the debate on bank secrecy. "If there were truly a will to advance in growth and security, the Executive would have promoted the opening of the legislative debate on lifting bank secrecy," the party declared in a public statement.

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If there were truly a will to advance in growth and security, the Executive would have promoted the opening of the legislative debate on lifting bank secrecy.

Tatiana Urrutia, a deputy from the left-wing Revolutionary Democratic Party, added that announcements might create unfulfilled expectations if they do not address the financial and logistical core of criminal groups. She also expressed concern over the lack of measures related to arms control, port security, tracking illicit money, and combating corruption. Meanwhile, Congressman Patricio Pinilla of the Christian Democrats acknowledged the plan as Kast's main campaign promise but noted the absence of any mention of prevention or reintegration programs.

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Without hitting the financial and logistical heart of organized crime, the announcements may create expectations that do not yield results.