Right-wing parties are preparing local outreach events, discussion forums and an audiovisual campaign for Sunday, October 18. That day marks seven years since the outbreak of social unrest. Meanwhile, the National Libertarian Party (PNL) is pressing President José Antonio Kast to announce pardons for convicted military and police personnel that day.
La Tercera reported these plans. According to the outlet, La Moneda has no statement or event planned for the date. This will be Kast's first October 18 as President.
October 18 refers to October 18, 2019. That day, mass protests began in Santiago and spread across the country. The crisis led to two constitutional processes, both of which failed at the ballot box.
The Republican Party, founded by Kast, is preparing a local outreach event with party officials. Its secretary-general, Vicente Bruna, said that on that day "Chileans experienced the terror of a force that sought to destroy our country". He added that if the far left wants another outbreak of unrest, the response will be another Republican government.
The UDI will focus its activities in Concepción. On October 15, the party's New Generations will hold a discussion with former Senator Jacqueline van Rysselberghe, who was UDI president in 2019. Two days later, former Senator Pablo Longueira will participate in another gathering of the party's youth wing. The national leadership, headed by Guillermo Ramírez, is also preparing a document rejecting the legitimization of violence as a form of protest.
National Renewal will launch the campaign "Never let it happen again". Starting this week, it will share audiovisual material featuring images of the violence, figures and statements by officials who supported the protests. "October 18 did not bring the positive changes that were promised", said its secretary-general, Katherine Martorell. Evópoli, by contrast, has nothing planned, although it has not ruled out a statement.
The strongest pressure comes from outside the governing coalition. Deputy Hans Marowski, vice president of the PNL, said announcing pardons that day "would be an important signal". According to him, military personnel and police officers who defended public order have been waiting for years, and the President has an outstanding commitment dating back to March.
The libertarian caucus's deputy leader, Paulina Muñoz, described the unrest as a criminal act planned abroad, with help from the Communist Party and the Broad Front. She also warned that if Kast does not make a decision, Congress can move forward with the general pardon bill.
According to BioBioChile, the left-wing parties consulted currently have no special activities planned. The UDI and RN have scheduled their first events for October 15 and 17. Kast has not said whether he will announce the pardons.
