Deputy Macarena Santelices confirmed on Thursday that the debate over a possible humanitarian pardon for Juan Aliste Vega triggered her resignation from the Partido Republicano (Republican Party), according to BioBioChile. Her departure from the party founded by President José Antonio Kast became official on Wednesday.
The lawmaker acknowledged that the decision had been building for some time. "It is a decision that has obviously been dragging on for a long time", she said on radio Agricultura.
Aliste Vega is a former member of the Movimiento Lautaro, a left-wing armed group that operated in Chile in the late 80s and early 90s. He filed a request for a pardon, which sparked controversy within the governing coalition.
According to BioBioChile, Republican leaders appeared open to applying humanitarian criteria in his case. They also proposed extending it to other convicts with similar health problems, including members of the military and police.
For Santelices, that comparison crossed a line. "Convictions and the defense of the homeland are never negotiable", she said. She called it "unacceptable" to use a possible benefit for Aliste Vega as a "bargaining chip" to clear the way for pardons of convicted soldiers and police officers.
"You can never make a backroom deal", she added.
However, the deputy made clear that the Aliste Vega case does not explain everything. Her criticism also targets the way the Republicans do politics. "When you don't fit into a model, obviously you have to see where you can make a positive contribution", she said.
Santelices avoided accusing her former party of not listening to its internal voices. Even so, she called for more dialogue within the governing coalition and fewer public fights. "We need to build bridges, and that is something we are sorely lacking", she said, asking for "not so much discussion through the media".
The lawmaker drew a distinction. She resigned from the party, not from the Government. She said she maintains a "deep affection" for the Republicans and stated that her support for Kast will remain unconditional.
The departure comes at a difficult moment for the Executive. The latest Cadem poll put the president's approval at 32%. A defection from his own party, even without a break with La Moneda (the presidential palace), exposes tensions within the right.
Her next step is to join the UDI caucus as an independent (Unión Demócrata Independiente, Independent Democratic Union), a party she had previously belonged to. Santelices highlighted Deputy Jorge Alessandri as a leader able to "unite", "build bridges" and "listen".
