According to BioBioChile, 60% of Chileans believe the President's power to grant pardons should be abolished. The figure comes from the Plaza Pública Cadem poll published this Sunday. Another 33% prefer to retain that power, while 8% did not answer.
Cadem is a Chilean opinion research company. Its Plaza Pública survey measures weekly assessments of the government and its leading figures, along with current affairs. This is edition No. 698.
The poll also asked about a specific case: the President pardoning former military and police personnel convicted of acts committed during the social unrest. 55% said they disagreed, while 36% were in favor. The source does not specify whether the government has already announced or signed any such pardons.
The pardon power allows the President to forgive or reduce a sentence already imposed by the courts. The question comes during a sensitive week, marked by the commemoration of October 18, the anniversary of the 2019 social unrest.
The poll brings bad news for La Moneda. 65% disapprove of President José Antonio Kast's performance, seven months after he took office. His approval rating stands at 30%.
The general mood follows that trend. Asked whether the country was heading in the right or wrong direction, considering political, economic and social factors, 69% said Chile was heading in the wrong direction. Only 25% believe it is heading in the right direction.
The numbers make clear who gains and who loses. The government faces majority disapproval of its performance and on an issue that touches its support base: the legal situation of former military and police personnel. The opposition finds support in the poll for questioning the use of presidential pardons.
The source does not report any pending bills to abolish or restrict this presidential power. For now, the concrete finding is the figure: six out of ten respondents want to strip the President of the power to grant pardons.
