Chamber approved State of Exception in the south of the country, now under Senate review

The Chamber of Deputies approved this Monday the continuation of the State of Exception in the Biobío and La Araucanía regions, a measure that must now be reviewed by the Senate.

Prior to the vote, Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado reported on a constitutional reform project aimed at expanding the powers of the Armed Forces, allowing them to carry out identity checks and arrests in flagrante delicto without the presence of Carabineros.

The Executive also announced the appointment of a single command for National Defense in the provinces of Biobío, Arauco, Malleco, and Cautín, with the goal of improving resource coordination.

From the ruling party, lawmakers such as Tomás Kast (Evópoli) and Gloria Naveillán (National Libertarian Party) praised the initiative, highlighting the strengthening of military powers. In the opposition, however, criticism arose, labeling the measures as "repressive."

The proposal also includes a joint deployment by the Ministry of Public Works and the Military Labor Force to intervene in rural roads that have lacked maintenance since 2018, as well as a police strengthening plan to bolster operational capabilities in the southern macrozone.

With 112 votes in favor, 20 against, and 11 abstentions, the Government secured support in the Chamber, paving the way for a key discussion in the Senate on the scope of these exceptional measures.