Chile debates a state of emergency of up to eight months without congressional approval

José Antonio Kast's government indicated on Tuesday it was willing to amend the constitutional security reform bill it submitted to the Senate on August 17, after the proposal drew objections both from the opposition and from parties within its own coalition. The bill creates a constitutional state of public security emergency that the president could declare in the face of a serious and imminent threat to public order, or once public order has already been seriously affected. It would last up to 120 days, and the president could extend it once for an equal period without seeking parliamentary authorisation, adding up to 240 days. Only subsequent extensions would require congressional agreement. While in force, freedom of movement and the rights of assembly and association could be restricted, and communications intercepted. The main point of friction is parliamentary oversight. The most severe states of emergency currently provided for in Chile's constitution — the state of siege, envisaged for civil war, and the state of assembly, for external war — require congressional approval within five days of being declared. Senate president Paulina Núñez called for the measure to be removed from the bill and said her party, Renovación Nacional, would not support it. She argued a fifth constitutional state of emergency “is not necessary.” The president of the Unión Demócrata Independiente, deputy Guillermo Ramírez, said the executive had “gone a bit too far” and warned that “these rules always end up staying, and tomorrow there is another president.” Interior Minister and government spokesman Claudio Alvarado said the government was prepared to listen to proposals. “Others may tell us: we find 120 days excessive, let's consider 30 days as under the other state of emergency and go to Congress for renewal. We are open to that,” he told Radio Bío-Bío. The executive has also indicated it would lower the legislative urgency, which set a fifteen-day deadline for debate. The reform requires four-sevenths of sitting members of Congress and must clear the constitution, defence and public security committees. Senators from Renovación Nacional, Evópoli and unaligned groups have raised objections, leaving the government without an assured quorum within its own bloc. A Cadem survey released on Sunday recorded 49% disagreement with the new state of emergency and 51% in favour of the government withdrawing the bill to adjust it. The text forms part of the Agenda against Organised Crime and Terrorism, comprising eight constitutional amendments and nineteen legislative initiatives, and includes the creation of an official registry of criminal organisations with constitutional rank. Top Comments Disclaimer & comment rulesNo comments for this story Please log in or register (it’s free!) to comment. Login with Facebook