Chile President Kast rejects calls for military deployment in public security

President José Antonio Kast said sending the armed forces onto the streets to fight crime is a "populist" solution, emphasizing that the Constitution does not grant the military the legal tools for such deployment and that the police are trained for public‑order duties. He cited the case of a 12‑year‑old boy killed during a police operation in San Bernardo and a past incident involving a conscript who shot an Ecuadorian citizen, arguing that responsibility must remain with civilian authorities.

Independencia mayor Agustín Iglesias, meanwhile, criticized the government's refusal to consider military support, calling the security crisis a national emergency that requires all state capacities. He urged the executive and Congress to pass pending legislation on critical infrastructure and rules of use of force, saying Chile needs decisive action to restore public safety.