Chilean Politicians Clash Over Kast’s "Chao Préstamo" Pension Reform and La Araucanía Violence Ahead of 2025 Elections

In Chile, political and security issues remain prominent ahead of the 2025 elections. Ximena Ossandón, a deputy from the National Renewal (RN) party, criticized the use of the parliamentary majority by the Republican Party during a second constitutional process and labeled José Antonio Kast's pension reform proposal, specifically the "Chao préstamo al Estado" measure, as the worst among his proposals. Ossandón also expressed concern over the continued politicization of the Pinochet era in the election discourse. Meanwhile, security concerns in La Araucanía persist following a deadly armed attack that killed a forest guard. Roberto Garrido, the regional prosecutor, highlighted that violence has been concentrated against Carabineros, police investigators, and civilians. Subsecretary of the Interior Víctor Ramos condemned the attack in Victoria and clarified that it is not connected to the indigenous consultation process. Andrés Jouannet, a deputy and president of Amarillos, called on the government and the Public Prosecutor's Office to assign a dedicated prosecutor for terrorism-related cases in the macrozone south and criticized the regional presidential delegate's performance. Senator Jaime Quintana, president of the Party for Democracy (PPD), advocated pausing the indigenous consultation to resume dialogue with ancestral authorities and criticized the government's limited progress on indigenous policies. Elisa Loncon, a prominent indigenous leader, denied the existence of terrorism in La Araucanía despite recent attacks. On the political campaign front, Carlos Maldonado, spokesperson for Evelyn Matthei, dismissed rumors of significant campaign departures and warned against political extremes, while criticizing Kast's potential government as one of minority and stagnation. Gael Yeomans, a deputy from the Broad Front and spokesperson for Jeannette Jara of the Communist Party, condemned Kast's pension reform, calling him the "grinch of pensions," and challenged Elisa Loncon's assertion that there is no terrorism in La Araucanía. The political climate is marked by tensions over indigenous issues, security challenges in the south, and sharp divisions over pension reforms and election strategies.