Congress Extends State of Emergency in Southern Macrozone for 15 More Days Amid Opposition Criticism Over Land Seizures

October 03, 2023 0 Comments Last News Sin tags

During the parliamentary debate over another extension of the State of Emergency in the Southern Macrozone, both in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, opposition lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction with the government's veto of the land seizure law, accusing it of sending mixed signals on security matters.

Ultimately, the Executive's request was approved in the Chamber of Deputies with 79 votes in favor, 33 against, and 24 abstentions. Notably, the rejection and abstention of lawmakers from the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) stood out, as they opposed the government's request as a form of protest.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, it was approved with 33 votes in favor, 3 against, and 1 abstention, bringing the total number of renewals to 33.

After the vote, Interior Minister Carolina Tohá thanked the parliament for its support and stated that "during President Boric's administration, there has been a very substantial increase in the number of convictions obtained for acts of violence in the Southern Macrozone."

She also emphasized that "we have practically doubled the annual convictions compared to the previous administration. We also reported how arrests have increased. This year, despite a decline in violent incidents—a fact acknowledged by opposition lawmakers in both the Chamber and the Senate—arrests in the Southern Macrozone have doubled in 2023 compared to 2021. At the same time, through all the strategies implemented, we have achieved a significant reduction in land seizures, an issue that has recently drawn much public attention."

Source:www.emol.com