CHILE · POLITICS
Key Facts
- The country Chile, the world’s top copper producer, is led by conservative President José Antonio Kast.
- What happened Deputy Justice Minister Luis Silva defended his signature on sentence cuts on Thursday 29 October 2026.
- His defence Silva says he signed as acting minister, “applying the criterion set by the minister himself.”
- The fallout The opposition is preparing a constitutional accusation against Justice Minister Fernando Rabat.
- Power Index Chile ranks 3rd of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 63.6 points (October 2026 edition).
Chile’s deputy justice minister, Luis Silva, defended on Thursday 29 October 2026 the sentence reductions he signed, saying he acted on the rule set by his own boss. In Spanish his title is subsecretario de Justicia, the second-ranking official of the Ministry of Justice.
The row matters beyond Chile because it tests the Kast government, a conservative administration that US investors in Chilean copper, lithium and bonds follow closely. It is a new chapter in a week of justice stories we have covered, including why lawyer Luis Hermosilla was jailed and why Chile removed Judge Daniel Urrutia.
What Silva Said
In a video posted on social media, Silva acknowledged public anger over the reductions, which cut prison time for people convicted of crimes that include sexual offences against minors. He said that he signed some of the decrees as acting minister when Rabat was absent, and that he did so “applying the criterion set by the minister himself.”
Silva said neither he nor Rabat wanted any of those convicts to leave prison even one day early. He added that the ministry first rejected several requests, and that Supreme Court rulings later forced it to reverse those decisions.
He also said the same thing happened under the previous government of President Gabriel Boric. He added that the law gives the signature to the minister.
How a Sentence Cut Works in Chile
A prisoner asks for a reduction of the sentence, and four bodies handle the request: Gendarmería (the prison service), a commission of professionals and judges led by a Court of Appeals judge, the regional office of the ministry, and the ministry itself. The minister, or the deputy when the minister is absent, then signs a decree.
Silva argued that victims were not guaranteed the right to be informed and heard. The government now backs a bill in Congress to change this.
What the Government Has Done Since
In his video, Silva said the Ministry of Justice is suspending the processing of all pending reduction requests and is studying whether and how the granted reductions can be reversed. Rabat said on Tuesday 27 October that the government had started a bill to change the system, which a congressional committee is merging with motions from lawmakers.
Rabat spoke of 54 decrees in the dispute, 36 of which had first been won by prisoners through court appeals. The opposition is preparing a constitutional accusation against him, a formal impeachment step in the lower house.
Why It Matters
The controversy gives Kast’s opponents a weapon against his government and puts the Ministry of Justice on the defensive. It also pushes Congress to spend time on a justice bill.
The dispute also shows how much power Chile’s courts have over executive decisions, a theme of this week’s other stories. A clear legal fix would reduce the risk of more surprises for the government.
What It Means for You
If you invest in Chilean stocks, bonds or the peso through US funds, the row does not change the economy directly. It does show how much political capital the government must spend before it can push its economic bills.
Travellers face no change in safety rules or entry requirements because of this dispute. Expats in Santiago will see it mostly in the news and in debates over prison and sentencing law.
What Is Not Known
It is not known how many decrees Silva himself signed, because tallies differ between 54 and 56 decrees and between the sexual-crime cases and the human rights cases. It is also not known whether the reductions already granted can legally be reversed.
The outcome of the constitutional accusation against Rabat is open, and so is Silva’s own position. The government has not yet said when the new bill could become law.
More: Chile news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is Luis Silva in Chile?
Luis Silva is the deputy minister (subsecretario) of justice, the second-ranking official of the Ministry of Justice. He signs decrees when Justice Minister Fernando Rabat is absent.
What Did Silva Say About the Sentence Reductions?
He said he signed some decrees as acting minister while applying the criterion set by the minister himself. He said neither of them wanted to free any convict early.
Has Chile Stopped New Sentence Reductions?
Silva says the Ministry of Justice is suspending the processing of pending reduction requests. It is studying how to reverse those already granted and backs a bill in Congress.
Will the Justice Minister Face Impeachment?
The opposition is preparing a constitutional accusation against Fernando Rabat in the lower house. It is not yet known whether it will be filed or succeed.
Sources: Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Chile, statements on sentence-reduction decrees, 23 to 29 October 2026; Gendarmería de Chile, prison service; Judiciary of Chile, Supreme Court rulings; Congress of Chile, Constitution Committee, 27 October 2026; Chamber of Deputies of Chile, special session on the Minister of Justice, 28 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief