Although the crisis over the decrees reducing sentences for those accused of sexual offenses has not yet fully subsided, and the government continues making efforts to prevent defections in the face of the constitutional accusation against the Justice Minister, Fernando Rabat, at La Moneda they had counted on this being a better week.
President José Antonio Kast began the week on Monday by personally notifying the leaders of the ruling coalition's parties of his reasons for keeping the Justice Minister in his post, and he reaffirmed an implicit message: that he will not give in to their pressures and their public calls for a cabinet reshuffle.
This was also supposed to be the week to resolve much of the 2027 Budget and to discuss the president's international agenda, as he set off for Asia to take part in the APEC Summit to be held starting November 18 in Shenzhen, China.
But the truckers' associations put the government in a tight spot once again with a mobilization that lasted four days, took over the agenda, caused economic damage, and pushed the Executive (and in particular the Finance Minister, Jorge Quiroz) to give way on one of the hallmarks of its administration: spending restraint and fiscal discipline.
The threat of road blockades across the country forced the Interior Minister, Claudio Alvarado, to take charge of negotiations with a fragmented association, which rejected the first proposals. In the end, the Executive had no choice but to...
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SEBASTIAN CISTERNAS/ ATON CHILE CommentsAlthough the crisis over the decrees reducing sentences for those accused of sexual offenses has not yet fully subsided, and the government continues making efforts to avoid defections amid the constitutional impeachment against the Justice Minister, Fernando Rabat, at La Moneda they had counted on this being a better week. President José Antonio Kast began the week on Monday personally notifying the leaders of the ruling coalition's parties of his reasons for keeping the Justice Minister in his post, and he reaffirmed an implicit message: that he will not yield to their pressures and their public calls for a cabinet reshuffle. This was also supposed to be the week to resolve much of the 2027 Budget and to discuss the president's international agenda, as he set off for Asia to take part in the APEC Summit to be held starting November 18 in Shenzhen, China. But the truckers' guilds once again put the government in a tight spot with a mobilization that lasted four days, dominated the agenda, caused economic damage, and pushed the Executive (and in particular Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz) to give way on one of the hallmarks of its administration: spending restraint and fiscal discipline. The threat of highway blockades across the country forced Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado to take charge of negotiations with a fragmented guild that rejected the first proposals. In the end, the Executive had no choice but to double its offer, which will entail a fiscal cost of close to US$ 900 million. The agreement includes a reduction of 142 pesos per liter of diesel, a price cap until March 2027, and higher percentages of recovery of the specific tax. While the government faced the specter of protests over the rising cost of living this week and authorities rejected a repeat of scenes from the social uprising such as "el que baila pasa" (those who dance may pass), in Congress lawmakers once again displayed institutional deterioration with shouting and insults during the Budget debate, forcing sessions to be suspended. Minister Quiroz was among those booed for reproaching lawmakers who "talk for the reel." More about: Ministry of Justice Fernando Rabat