According to BioBioChile, the Republican Party's secretary general, Vicente Bruna, reaffirmed the idea of a "humanitarian pardon across the political spectrum" following the death of Juan Manuel Aliste Vega. The former member of the Lautaro Movement died this Sunday at Santiago's Prison Hospital, suffering from terminal cancer.
Aliste Vega was serving a sentence for the murder of Carabineros Corporal Luis Moyano. The Lautaro Movement was an armed left-wing group that operated in Chile during the 80s and early 90s.
Before his death, Aliste Vega had requested a pardon from President José Antonio Kast. According to the outlet, the request received support from several Republican figures. However, it could not be processed before his death.
Bruna was among those who supported it. "Anyone who has a terminal illness, dementia or something similar, and is no longer a danger to society, should be able to die at home," he said.
The proposal has drawn a political interpretation. According to BioBioChile, various sectors maintain that the ultimate aim of Republican support would be to open the door to pardons for inmates at Punta Peuco, a prison where former military personnel convicted of human rights violations are serving sentences, or for people convicted of acts committed during the social unrest.
Bruna rejected that interpretation and described the initiative as "purely humanitarian." In his view, this is an issue that should unite all of society and generate no controversy.
The source includes no reactions from other parties or the Government regarding the case. Nor does it specify whether a formal bill is under consideration.
Bruna himself announced the next step. "We will continue working with the Government to make this a reality as soon as possible," he said, without setting deadlines or detailing the mechanism.
