Chilean government faces crisis after migration reform defeat

The government of President José Antonio Kast faced a significant legislative setback in the Chilean Chamber of Deputies after a key constitutional reform to extend detention periods for migrants with administrative expulsion orders was rejected by a single vote. The proposal received 88 votes, falling one short of the 89 required for a four-sevenths quorum.

The defeat has triggered intense internal scrutiny and political tension within the ruling coalition. The General Secretariat of the Presidency (Segpres) and Minister José García Ruminot are facing criticism for administrative errors regarding parliamentary leave permits. Specifically, the absence of Republican Party deputies Felipe Ross and Stephan Schubert, who were traveling with the President in the United States, contributed to the narrow loss due to improperly processed constitutional permissions.

Senate President Paulina Núñez (RN) has called for “major surgery” within the cabinet, citing a “political deficit” and a lack of leadership. While some members of Renovación Nacional (RN) have defended García Ruminot, arguing that individual lawmakers are responsible for their own attendance and permits, others have pointed to failures in political coordination and communication within the executive branch.