Clashes have emerged in Chile as students take to the streets to protest against the government's proposed cuts to public spending, including reductions in the education budget.
On Nov 5, 2026, high school and university students took part in demonstrations in Santiago, protesting against the proposed education budget cuts and the wider policies of President José Antonio Kast's government. The demonstrations turned confrontational, with protesters clashing with police, who used water cannons to disperse crowds. Several Metro stations were also affected, with some entrances closed and traffic diverted in parts of the capital.
The protests come amid growing dissatisfaction with the government, with students and other demonstrators also demanding the resignation of Justice Minister Fernando Rabat over a separate controversy involving sentence reductions granted to convicted child sex offenders.
Calls for the resignation of Justice Minister Fernando Rabat
The demonstrations have intensified following revelations that the Ministry of Justice granted sentence reductions to 56 people convicted of sexual offences against minors during the first six months of the Kast administration.
The reductions were issued through administrative decrees between Mar 11 and Sept 13, 2026. According to reports, 27 of the cases involved convictions for sexual abuse of minors, while 29 involved rape.
The decision has triggered widespread criticism, with protesters demanding that Rabat resign over the reductions, which reportedly allowed several of the beneficiaries to leave prison earlier than originally scheduled.
Rabat's defence and the legal controversy
Justice Minister Fernando Rabat has defended the decisions, arguing that the ministry acted in accordance with existing legislation, constitutional principles and the legal criteria established through previous Supreme Court rulings.
Rabat has maintained that a 2022 legal amendment, which excluded people convicted of certain sexual offences against minors from sentence-reduction benefits, could not be applied retrospectively to crimes committed before the amendment came into force.
However, his explanation has faced further scrutiny. The controversy centres on whether the ministry was legally required to approve the reductions or whether it retained the authority to reject individual applications.
Rabat has argued that the government followed the legal interpretation established by the Supreme Court. Subsequent investigations into previous judicial decisions have raised questions about this position, including whether the minister could have rejected some applications instead of granting the reductions administratively.
🚨🇨🇱 TENSIÓN EN CHILE: Crece la presión social y política sobre el gobierno de José Kast. Protesta multitudinaria de estudiantes exigiendo la renuncia del ministro de Justicia. La aprobación de su gestión cayó al 22,1 % y el rechazo alcanzó el 67,5%. Si ya saben cómo es la derecha, para qué la votan??Otro amigo de Milei que está por caer. Cuánto falta para que pase en Argentina?
— Resistencia Nacional (@ResistenciaNac_) November 5, 2026
Opposition moves against Rabat
The opposition has announced plans to pursue a constitutional accusation against Rabat, seeking to hold him politically and legally accountable for the decisions.
On Nov 5, opposition parties reaffirmed their intention to present the accusation.
The proposed accusation is expected to contain three main chapters. These concern the sentence reductions granted to the 56 people convicted of sexual offences against minors, reductions involving individuals convicted of human rights violations and crimes against humanity, and alleged failures of ministerial probity.
Opposition lawmakers have also demanded greater transparency regarding the decrees and have called for the publication of the documents relating to the sentence reductions.
Kast backs Rabat despite growing criticism
Despite the mounting criticism, President José Antonio Kast has maintained his support for the Justice Minister and has declined to remove him from office.
Rabat has also stated that he is willing to cooperate with the scrutiny and proceedings surrounding the controversy.
The President has acknowledged that the sentence reductions were a political mistake and that the government failed victims, but he has nevertheless retained Rabat in his Cabinet.
🚨 AHORA: 🔷 Enorme Marcha Estudiantil avanza por Alameda desde Los Héroes hacia La Moneda por la Renuncia de Kast #RenunciaKast #KastVerguenzaInternacional #KastNoSabeGobernar https://t.co/ULwGWIvA7e
— El Hilo Chileno BORA LULA 🇨🇱💚🇧🇷👊 (@ElHiloCL) November 5, 2026
Rabat's previous controversy over defending Pinochet
Rabat had previously faced criticism even before taking office because of his professional association with former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.
As a lawyer, Rabat was part of the legal team that defended Pinochet in several cases, including the Operation Colombo investigations and the Riggs case, which examined the former dictator's illicit financial holdings and alleged misappropriation of public funds.
His appointment as Justice Minister had already drawn criticism from human rights organisations and relatives of victims of the Pinochet dictatorship, given his previous involvement in the dictator's legal defence.
Kast government's approval ratings continue to fall
The controversy surrounding Rabat, together with the continuing student demonstrations and opposition to the government's spending policies, has added to the political pressure facing the eight-month-old Kast administration.
According to the Cadem poll published on Nov 1, President Kast's approval rating fell to 26%, its lowest level since he took office, while his disapproval rating reached 69%.
The same poll found that 70% of respondents disagreed with Kast's decision to retain Rabat as Justice Minister, while 78% disapproved of the minister's handling of the controversy.
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