Chili.- The Minister of Justice of Chile, Marcela Ríos, has resigned amid the questions generated by the delivery of pardons to 13 people who were deprived of their liberty.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric confirmed this Saturday the resignation of Ríos, who will be replaced by Luis Cordero Vega.
“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 from said portfolio,” the president said. .
Among those pardoned were 12 prisoners who had been convicted of committing crimes during the historic protests that were part of the social outbreak at the end of 2019. Jorge Mateluna was added to them, a former guerrilla member of the Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front who fought against the Augusto dictatorship. Pinochet (1973-1990) and who had been detained since 2013, accused of having robbed a bank.
“We must take responsibility”
The pardon for Mateluna caused a group of deputies from the right-wing Renovación Nacional party to present a constitutional complaint against Ríos and another for the alleged crime of prevarication, local press reports.
“When situations of these characteristics occur in politics, we must assume the responsibilities […]. As a Government we have a responsibility that is of every day, to make complex decisions that as a whole are building our country and the place where we want to live and the society that we want to form. All those who have a role of high responsibility in my government know that when mistakes of this nature are made, political responsibilities must be assumed, as is being done in this case,” Boric said.
At the same time, Gabriel Boric also accepted the resignation of the Chief of Staff, Matías Meza-Lopehandía. According to the local press, the official was the closest man and the one who delivered the main political arguments to the president, in his actions and in his execution. His departure would cause a redesign of the Government, since he kept the president’s notes.
Finally, the president urged “all political forces” to work together on “the urgent needs” of the Chilean people, and to “quickly legislate the package of economic measures” that he presented this week.
