Ich gehe zurück in die Diktatur: Yeomans beschuldigt übermäßige Zuteilungen für Kast bei der Sicherheitsreform

Gael Yeomans, the newly elected leader of Chile’s Frente Amplio party, has accused the government of granting President Sebastián Piñera’s successor, José Antonio Kast, “excessive powers” under a proposed constitutional reform aimed at overhauling the country's security framework. In remarks made during an interview with Mesa Central, Yeomans warned that some provisions within the initiative could be reminiscent of the authoritarian era under former dictator Augusto Pinochet. The reform seeks to introduce a new state of exception mechanism, which would allow the executive branch greater authority in handling public safety issues. However, Yeomans rejected the notion that a future organic constitutional law, intended to regulate these powers, would adequately address her concerns. She argued that such measures risk undermining civil liberties and echoing past abuses. “We believe it is unnecessary unless one wants to hand more authoritarian powers to the President,” she stated. “Limiting freedoms this way reminds me of the past, of the dictatorship. I have to say that because it is true.” Yeomans specifically criticized the proposal’s provisions allowing for the interception of communications and restrictions on personal movement under the new state of exception. She described the reform not as a genuine effort to enhance security, but rather as a step backward into an era marked by excessive executive control. “The focus should be on pursuing criminals, not limiting the freedoms of all citizens in the country,” she added. Her comments came after she was asked to respond to arguments put forward by Minister Claudio Alvarado, who claimed that the proposed state of exception would be accompanied by an organic constitutional law incorporating oversight mechanisms from both Congress and the judiciary, along with accountability procedures for the president. Despite these assurances, Yeomans dismissed them as insufficient. “The problem with the organic law does not get resolved,” she said. “The political mistake is thinking that a reform of this nature will solve the security issue, when we all know that is not the case.” She emphasized that the discussion should center on addressing the root causes of crime, including youth delinquency and educational neglect. “We need to talk seriously about security. Let’s discuss intelligence, let’s discuss childhood, adolescence, how we take responsibility for school dropout,” she urged. Yeomans also noted that the reform has failed to fully unify the coalition supporting the government, pointing out that there have been voices within the right-wing expressing reservations about the proposal. From the opposition, she argued, there must be a dual approach: “On one hand, having an opposition capable of blocking such agendas, and on the other, taking responsibility for security and developing our own proposals.” The debate over the security reform took place amid broader discussions surrounding Yeomans' leadership of the Frente Amplio following her victory in internal elections. The UDI, a right-leaning party, had issued a document describing her rise to power as a “return of Octoberism”, a reference to the leftist uprisings of 1973 that preceded the military coup. In response, Yeomans accused the UDI of seeking an enemy and caricaturing her positions. “They seem to be looking for an enemy at this moment. It’s very cartoonish the way they frame it,” she said. She also addressed critics who labeled her a radical leader. “If being radical means defending someone who is on a waiting list at the Barros Luco clinic, then yes, I am radical,” she remarked, referencing a controversial incident involving a patient at a public hospital. As the reform moves forward, its passage through Congress appears uncertain. With divisions within the governing coalition and strong opposition from the left, the government faces a critical test in negotiating support for the measure. The outcome could determine whether the reform proceeds or is significantly altered before reaching final approval.