President José Antonio Kast called on Wednesday for leaving the social unrest behind and looking to the future. He made the remarks three days before the anniversary of October 18, 2019, as he left La Moneda Palace.
According to El Mostrador, the president was heading to an event with Security Minister Martín Arrau. There, he was asked about calls to commemorate the date.
"We need to look to the future," he replied. He added: "October 18 was a difficult moment, with a great deal of violence, and we hope that never happens again."
Kast insisted that his government is "rebuilding our country" and said that "very good news is coming for Chile." According to Emol, he mentioned a presentation by Choose Chile, an initiative to attract foreign investment to the country.
The response follows criticism from an allied group. The National Libertarian Party rebuked the government over its decision not to hold an official commemoration of the seventh anniversary.
Libertarian Senator Vanessa Kaiser called it "unbelievable that the government is not holding any event for this coming October 18." According to Emol, she added that "this is the first anniversary of the October coup that La Moneda faces under this government, and therefore the signals should be absolutely clear."
The libertarians also asked the President to grant pardons that day. Kast avoided addressing the issue when asked. The sources do not specify who would benefit from those pardons.
The tension illustrates a dilemma for the governing coalition. Its most hardline voters demand symbolic gestures regarding the unrest. The government, meanwhile, prefers to focus on the economy and investment.
Meanwhile, the governing parties are preparing a joint statement titled "Chile without violence: a commitment to peace", condemning the events of 2019. They are expected to release it before Saturday, October 18.
