Chilean President Gabriel Boricaccept the resignation of Marcela Ríos as Minister of Justice and Matías Meza-Lopehandía, Chief of Staff, in the midst of a strong controversy over 13 pardons granted by the ruler at the end of 2022.
“Because there were untidiness in the execution of my decision to grant pardons and also considering the need to strengthen the political management of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, decided to accept the resignation of Marcela Ríos Tobar from said portfolio,” he said. Boric this Saturday.
“When in politics situations of these characteristics occur we must take responsibility. In his replacement, he decided to appoint the prominent lawyer Mr. Luis Cordero Vega,” said the president.
The departure of Ríos from the cabinet comes hours after the opposition and right-wing parties Renovación Nacional and Unión Demócrata Independiente (UDI) announced the presentation on Monday, January 9, of a constitutional accusation against the now ex-minister.
The political trial takes place in the National Congress, where the ruling party does not have a majority.
The sweets and the beginning of the scandal
The reason for this announced constitutional accusation arises from the granting of 13 presidential pardons, on December 30, which favored 12 convicted for events that occurred after the so-called social outbreak that began in October 2019.
In addition, the presidential pardon reached a former member of the armed group Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front (FPMR), convicted of the robbery of a bank in 2013.
Pardons are an attribution of the President of the Republic and have often generated controversy, such as when Sebastián Piñera (2010-14 and 2018-22) pardoned those convicted of crimes against humanity during the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973-90). .
The controversy over sweets Boric He grew up when the record of one of the favored was known, who had previous convictions for robbery with violence and for theft.
The granting of pardons to people convicted of acts carried out during the social revolt that began in 2019 was one of Boric’s campaign promises.
The so-called social outbreak left some thirty dead, some 400 people with eye injuries due to police repression and thousands of injured agents.
Ríos was also questioned about her management in the appointment of the national prosecutor, what were the first two names proposed by the president that were rejected by Parliament? A third candidate for that position must be voted on this Monday, January 9.
The departure of Ríos – the third ministerial change in nine months of management – constitutes a stumbling block for the president Boricwhose biggest blow was the rejection of the proposal for a new Constitution, on September 4, with which his government had committed.
This situation was added hours after the resignation of the Social Convergence lawyer who was none other than Boric’s Chief of Staff.
AFP/MCP
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