Evelyn Matthei Criticizes José Antonio Kast for Keeping Minister Rabat Amidst Controversy

Original article: «No entiendo cómo han logrado desangrarse»: Matthei cuestiona duramente a Kast por mantener a Rabat y apoyaría acusación constitucional contra el ministro

«I don’t understand how they’ve managed to bleed out like this,» stated former presidential candidate of Chile Vamos, Evelyn Matthei, as she sharply questioned José Antonio Kast for keeping Fernando Rabat as Minister of Justice despite the crisis triggered by the reduction of sentences for individuals convicted of sexual crimes against minors.

In a discussion on Tolerancia Cero, the former mayor of Providencia confirmed that she would vote in favor of the constitutional accusation against the state secretary if she held a seat in Parliament.

Matthei emphasized her support for the motion, stating, «I would vote in favor not because I believe he has committed a constitutional error, but because that minister is already no longer viable. He cannot continue as Minister of Justice.»

Thus, the former presidential candidate distanced herself from the legal arguments put forth by Kast’s administration and focused her critique on the political viability of Minister Rabat following the scandal exposed by the revelation that the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights granted 56 sentence reductions for sexual crimes against children, boys, and adolescents to 27 convicted of sexual abuse and 29 for rape, during the first six months of Kast’s government, from March 11 to September 13, 2026.

«The government isn’t being loyal to its own coalition»

The former authority stated that the continued presence of the Justice minister in the cabinet has caused a «rupture among the ruling coalition».

«What has happened is that the groups supporting the government have started to divide. Some are leaving, and there is outrage on both sides. The effect has already occurred: there is a rupture, hopefully, it won’t be permanent,» she remarked.

In this regard, she anticipated that it is «very likely» that lawmakers from the ruling party will support the constitutional accusation announced by the opposition and warned, «Many will vote in favor.»

Matthei also pointed out La Moneda for what she considered a lack of loyalty toward its own political sector. «The government isn’t being loyal to its own coalition,» she asserted, predicting that if the accusation fails, the minister «is going to have a tough time (…) he will be vetoed from everything.»

«Why is there such a terrible fear of him leaving?»

To illustrate the severity of the situation facing Kast’s administration, she used a harsh medical analogy: «Why is there such a terrible fear of him leaving? Why didn’t they let him fall at the beginning? They could have cut it there. When you have gangrene, you cut off the gangrenous part; otherwise, the whole patient could die.»

«I just don’t understand how they have managed to bleed out like this,» she emphasized in her statements.

Regarding the origin of the controversy, the former presidential candidate described the situation as «the greatest self-inflicted crisis» of the government.

«This is the largest and most serious example I’ve seen of tripping over one’s own feet. It’s like a football player who stumbles over his own feet. I really don’t understand it,» she commented.

She suggested that while all governments make mistakes, the difference lies in the reaction: «The issue is whether one can recover from the mistake or reacts in a way that actually exacerbates the error.»

Matthei Highlights a «worrying lack of judgment» from Kast

In that sense, she asserted that if she had been in La Moneda, she would have removed Rabat «immediately» due to the change in criteria regarding the signing of decrees for penitentiary benefits.

«He cannot make such a serious decision without at least consulting with the interior minister or the president of the republic,» she argued, adding that «anyone understands that freeing 56 criminals who committed serious crimes against minors, no one could have ignored that this would have a public effect.»

Finally, Matthei pointed to a «worrying lack of judgment» both in President Kast and in those who supported keeping Rabat in the cabinet.

«This is a too lengthy mistake. (…) If it’s going to come out sooner or later (…) I think it’s already too late. I believe the consequences, the problems, the rupture, the distrust, have already settled in,» she concluded.