A group of senators will establish a new parliamentary bloc known as Bancada por el Indulto General this Wednesday, aimed at advancing legislation granting a general amnesty to members of the armed forces, Carabineros, the Police Investigations Department (PDI), Gendarmería, and certain civilians linked to incidents during the social unrest that began in October 2019. The initiative is scheduled to be presented at 3:45 PM local time, according to its organizers, who aim to coordinate legislative, political, and communication efforts to expedite the process and encourage active participation from President José Antonio Kast’s government in discussing the proposal. Confirmed members of the bloc include independent senator Alejandro Kusanovic, RN senator Camila Flores, Republican Party senator Cristián Vial, independent Republican Party member Rodolfo Carter, Republican Party senator Ignacio Urrutia, PNL senator Vanessa Kaiser, and RN senator Carlos Kuschel. The core objective of this new entity is to support the processing of Bill No. 18.423-07, a parliamentary motion proposing to grant the benefit to active and retired personnel from the aforementioned institutions who participated in procedures related to restoring public order during the social unrest. The amnesty would extend to civilians who assisted in protecting public or private infrastructure or acted in self-defense of others during that period. The bill outlines that individuals with confirmed convictions would have their prison terms or restrictions on freedom extinguished, along with any fines imposed. For those still facing criminal proceedings, the initiative proposes definitive dismissal of charges and immediate lifting of current precautionary measures. It also aims to invalidate administrative sanctions, disciplinary records, or institutional dismissals arising from these events, allowing affected personnel to return to service and receive back pay they had stopped receiving. The document frames the situation from October 2019 as a "serious disruption of public order," which forced the state to resort to constitutional emergency states and deploy the armed forces to protect security and critical infrastructure. It notes that after the crisis was resolved, there was a "disproportionate judicial pursuit" against uniformed personnel who "acted in accordance with orders issued by civilian authorities amid high levels of violence." The text describes the amnesty as a tool to "restore social peace and provide legal certainty" to those involved in these operations. President José Antonio Kast recently led a preventive police operation in Plaza de Armas in Santiago, emphasizing the role of law enforcement in maintaining safety. During the event, he stated that together they would work to ensure Chile regains its status as the safest country in Latin America. Meanwhile, internal politics within the opposition continue to evolve. Sebastián Depolo, former ambassador under President Gabriel Boric's administration in Brazil, commented on the challenges faced by the Frente Amplio party, noting that a political force arriving in power without change is akin to a sect of fanatics. He highlighted the need for organic growth, territorial expansion beyond urban centers, and political resilience amidst setbacks. Internal elections within the Frente Amplio are shaping up to be contentious, with candidates Constanza Martínez and Gael Yeomans vying for leadership roles. Martínez argues that her list acknowledges past achievements while recognizing the need for progress, whereas Yeomans emphasizes the importance of representing those who supported Boric's presidential bid more effectively. Opposition parties including the PPD, Socialist Party, Frente Amplio, Communist Party, Liberal Party, and Christian Democracy announced plans for regional meetings on August 8 to coordinate strategies against the Kast government. These gatherings aim to address issues such as rising cost of living, unemployment, and the effects of recent weather-related disasters, promoting a unified front against the administration's policies. In another development, the military has requested Minister of Defense Fernando Barros to authorize the retirement of Captain José Faúndez Sepúlveda with a pension of $2.7 million due to an incurable case of post-traumatic stress disorder resulting from his actions during the 2019 unrest. Faúndez was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the death of protestor Romario Veloz. This request marks the second attempt by the military to secure this benefit, following the rejection of a similar petition under the previous administration.
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