Boric accepts resignation of Chile’s Justice Minister amid pardon controversy

The president of Chili, gabriel boricdecided to accept the resignation of Marcela Ríos as Minister of Justice, 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, I have decided to accept the resignation of Marcela Ríos Tobar to said portfolio”, said Boric this Saturday.

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“When situations of these characteristics occur in politics, we must assume responsibilities. In his replacement I have decided to appoint the prominent lawyer Mr. Luis Cordero Vega “. highlighted the ruler.

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 is carried out in the National Congress, where the ruling party does not have a majority.

The reason for this announced constitutional accusation arises from the granting of 13 pardons presidential elections, on December 30, which favored 12 convicted of 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.

The pardons they 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 dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-90).

The controversy for the pardons of 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, whose first two names proposed by the president 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, to which his government had committed.

Source: Elcomercio

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