Chilean President Kast Defends Constitutional Reform, Criticizes Judicial Obstacles in Prisoner Transfers

Chilean President José Antonio Kast is strongly advocating for a constitutional reform aimed at enhancing public security, asserting that the nation's constitution must explicitly address this critical area. He emphasized the urgent need for the state to possess robust tools to confront organized crime and streamline the management of high-profile inmates.

During a commemoration event in Valparaíso, Kast highlighted his administration's push for the reform, stating it could be modified and improved but stressing its fundamental importance. He specifically pointed to judicial decisions that have reversed operational directives from Chile's prison service, Gendarmería. These rulings, he argued, create procedural hurdles in maintaining security and transferring inmates deemed a risk.

Kast implicitly referenced the case of four members of the "Clan Chen," whose transfer from Alto Hospicio to the maximum-security prison La Laguna in Talca was blocked by the courts. He questioned the legal basis for inmates to appeal such transfers, particularly when their previous actions involved violence, suggesting it undermines public safety.

The President also extended condolences to the Carabineros de Chile following the recent killing of an off-duty officer. This reform debate places the state's penitentiary powers against criminal organizations back into public discourse, underscoring the need for legal frameworks that support stringent intra-prison control measures.