Opposition Confronts Kast Over Contradictory Claims with Rabat and Demands Minister’s Resignation

Original article: “Uno de los dos está mintiendo”: oposición encara a Kast por versiones contradictorias con Rabat y exige salida del ministro

“Who should we believe? One of them is lying”, fired PPD leader Raúl Soto as he confronted President José Antonio Kast regarding the conflicting statements he and Justice Minister Fernando Rabat have made about the signing of decrees that reduced sentences for convicted sex offenders against children and adolescents.

“Initially, Minister Rabat claimed that the President was unaware of these decrees and tried to absolve him of responsibility. Now the President, in support of his minister, is taking the blame himself,” Soto said, questioning the leader for not asking for the resignation of the state secretary amid the crisis triggered by the revelation that the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights granted 56 sentence reductions to 27 convicted sex offenders and 29 for child rape between March 11 and September 13, 2026.

The opposition’s attack did not stop there. Parliamentarians from the DC to the Broad Front united under one demand: that Kast face the political consequences and remove Rabat from his position.

The trigger was the challenge issued by the far-right leader during his European tour, where he not only reiterated his support for Rabat, reminding that the power to dismiss ministers lies exclusively with him, but also urged the opposition to finally present the constitutional accusation.

“I’ve taken political responsibility, not legal, myself,” he declared, adding, “They’ve had a week to present the constitutional accusation; they haven’t done it. Why not? Let them present it and let it be voted on.”

Rather than backing down, the opposition lawmakers took up the challenge and doubled down.

Senator Iván Flores (DC) characterized the President’s statements as a true “day of fury” and warned that such confrontational rhetoric does nothing to improve the relationship between the Executive and Congress.

“Is Rabat that valuable to the President, or is it simply stubbornness refusing to yield?” questioned the legislator, highlighting that, for the opposition, the presidential support for the minister is becoming increasingly inexplicable.

In this context, PPD President Raúl Soto criticized Kast for having faced the crisis for almost two weeks without requesting his minister’s resignation.

“He’s still not capable of stepping up and asking for his Justice Minister’s resignation,” he scolded.

From the PS, parliamentary head Raúl Leiva stated that Kast’s challenge should be directed at his Justice Minister, who has failed to provide the 56 decrees reducing sentences for convicted sex offenders against minors that the opposition has requested.

“You, President, said you made a significant error. Correct it, remedy it,” he insisted in comments reported by El Mostrador.

Deputy Daniel Manouchehri, also from the PS, referred to Kast’s lack of empathy towards victims by keeping Rabat in the Justice portfolio.

Deputy Carolina Tello (FA) noted that if the President is “so eager to close this crisis,” he must ask for his Justice Minister’s resignation.

Additionally, she emphasized the need to transparency the 56 decrees and establish a support plan for victims.

Kast Lacks Secure Votes from the Ruling Party to Defend Rabat

While Kast challenges the opposition, members of his own presidential delegation in Rome are expressing doubts too. The President of the Chamber, Jorge Alessandri (UDI), acknowledged the difficulties Kast faces in keeping the ruling party united when it comes to voting on a constitutional accusation against Rabat.

“It’s likely that, given the circumstances with Minister Rabat’s crisis, there will be some withdrawals,” the leader admitted, according to the cited media.