Hundreds of protesters in Santiago clashed with police on Thursday over President Jose Antonio Kast’s security agenda, with many drawing direct comparisons to former dictator Augusto Pinochet. Police deployed tear gas and water cannon to disperse the crowd as demonstrators moved through the central Plaza Italia. Protesters chanted that Kast was “just like Pinochet”, according to on-the-ground accounts. Kast, who took office in March, has pledged a tougher approach to organised crime and illegal immigration. Rights advocates and critics say his proposals would narrow civil liberties, while supporters argue they are needed to tackle escalating violence. Protest In SantiagoThe demonstration gathered large numbers of people who said the proposed measures echoed practices associated with Pinochet’s 1973-1990 military rule. Chile’s most right-wing leader since the end of the dictatorship, Kast has repeatedly linked his programme to the growing threat posed by criminal groups. The police response came as protesters advanced through the square, leading to repeated confrontations before the crowd was pushed back. Constitutional Changes Under ReviewTo combat crime, Kast’s government has put forward eight constitutional amendments. One proposal would let the president declare a state of emergency for up to eight months in the event of a serious threat to public security, without needing congressional approval. Under the plan, authorities could restrict basic freedoms, including freedom of movement and freedom of assembly. The proposal also includes the power to intercept communications in specific geographic areas, a point that opponents say could enable intrusive surveillance. The amendments have not yet been debated in Congress. They have already faced criticism from rights organisations, opposition figures and even some members of the ruling coalition. Camila Aramena, a 22-year-old public administration student who took part in Thursday’s protest, told AFP that the proposals would give the president powers “that a president in a democracy should not have”. Crime Spike Sets ContextChile is regarded as one of the safest countries in Latin America, but the country has seen rising numbers of murders and kidnappings in recent years. Critics and officials have linked the increase to the arrival and expansion of foreign criminal groups, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua. Official figures cited in the debate show the homicide rate stood at 5.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025. That is double the level recorded a decade earlier, according to the same data. Join the discussion? 4 September 2026
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