SANTIAGO — Eight months into his administration, Chilean President José Antonio Kast has seen his approval rating plummet to 24%. The sharp decline comes as public outrage mounts over a Ministry of Justice decree that reduced the prison sentences of 56 sex offenders convicted of crimes against minors. Despite the fierce backlash, President Kast has chosen to retain the Justice Minister, escalating his political vulnerability.

According to a poll published on the 8th (local time) by the research firm Agenda Criteria—cited by local outlets such as Bío Bío Chile and Emol—Kast's approval rating dropped by 1 percentage point from the previous week to 24%. This marks a continuous three-week downward trend, hitting the lowest point since he took office. Meanwhile, disapproval surged by 2 percentage points to reach a high of 67%.

The Core Catalyst: Controversial Commutations for Sex Offenders

The primary driver behind the plunge in public support is the Ministry of Justice's handling of inmate sentence reductions.

Under the Kast administration, the ministry utilized an administrative order to commute the sentences of 56 individuals convicted of sex crimes involving minors. The group comprises 27 offenders of child and adolescent sexual abuse and 29 convicted of the statutory rape of minors.

The controversy centers on differing legal interpretations regarding a 2003 law governing sentence reductions for model prisoners. Although a 2022 legal amendment explicitly excluded sex offenders targeting minors from such reductions, debates arose over whether the revised regulations could be retroactively applied to inmates who committed crimes prior to the amendment.

While the Ministry of Justice defended its actions by citing retroactive considerations and Supreme Court precedents, public criticism intensified. Critics pointed out that victims were never consulted, and noted that previous administrations had actively contested similar reduction requests filed by these criminals.

Political Fallout and Growing Distrust in Government

In response to the outcry, President Kast publicly acknowledged that the commutations were a mistake, issued an apology to the victims, and ordered a halt to any further reduction procedures along with a full review of existing decisions. However, he stubbornly upheld his decision to keep Justice Minister Fernando Rabat—who signed the controversial decree—in office.

On October 28, the Chamber of Deputies passed a resolution by 68 votes to 42 (with 7 abstentions) urging the president to dismiss Minister Rabat and the Deputy Minister of Justice. While the resolution does not carry formal dismissal power, it reflects intense bipartisan pressure from the legislature. The opposition is now actively pursuing constitutional impeachment proceedings against Rabat.

Additionally, prosecutors have launched an investigation into potential abuse of power and other legal violations during the commutation decision-making process.

Public skepticism extends far beyond this single scandal. The survey revealed that 68% of respondents believe the government lacks the capability to improve the country's overall situation. Confidence in the administration's policy planning remains critically low, with only 20% believing the government has a clear economic growth strategy, 17% trusting its employment plans, and a mere 16% having faith in its public safety initiatives.

President Kast rose to power on a platform centered on restoring law and order and eradicating crime. Yet, the current child sex offender controversy directly contradicts his core political identity. Combined with the ongoing standoff over the Justice Minister's tenure, the administration has failed to halt its steep slide in public approval since taking office.

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