The president of the UDI (Unión Demócrata Independiente, a right-wing party), deputy Guillermo Ramírez, on Saturday described as "slanderous" the statements made by the Republican Party chairman, senator Arturo Squella, against former Justice Minister Hernán Larraín. With that, the gremialista movement joined the criticism Evópoli had voiced earlier.
According to La Tercera, Ramírez spoke at a press briefing. There he defended Larraín, a UDI member and Sebastián Piñera's only Justice Minister, who had issued a statement about the sentence reduction law passed in 2022.
"It is unacceptable," Ramírez said. In his view, Larraín was simply giving an account of what the Piñera government did, which, he said, legislated to strip these benefits from people convicted of crimes against children. He also argued that Gabriel Boric's Justice Ministers had already spoken out on the matter.
The deputy added that he considers the criticism unfair and called for responsibility within the coalition. He warned that if the proper forms are not respected, "we weaken the government, we weaken our position in Congress" and the left gains the upper hand. He added that actions of this kind damage trust and "severely harm" the Executive.
With this rebuke, the UDI and Evópoli are on the same side against the Republicans, the party of President José Antonio Kast. The dispute once again strains relations between Chile Vamos and its main partner, just when the government needs its coalition united in Congress.
The risk is real. According to BioBioChile, the opposition is preparing a constitutional accusation (an impeachment proceeding) against Justice Minister Fernando Rabat over the sentence reductions granted to 56 people linked to the abuse and rape of minors. To face that process, the ruling coalition needs its votes aligned.
Kast decided to back Rabat and ruled out removing him. The Executive pledged a legislative solution and not to process any more decrees of this kind. However, it acknowledged that reversing the 56 benefits already carried out is complicated.
