Chilean lawmakers reject move to impeach President Pinera over rights abuses (updated)

Avante

12/12/2019 13:57

(Updates with final vote, analyst comment, details from debate)
    By Dave Sherwood  and Natalia A. Ramos Miranda
    SANTIAGO, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Chilean lawmakers on Thursday
rejected a bid to oust President Sebastian Pinera over
allegations he failed to safeguard human rights during weeks of
deadly riots, a small victory for the embattled leader as he
pushes for reforms to quell protesters' demands. 
    After hours of debate that featured angry shouting matches,
the Chamber of Deputies tossed the impeachment motion out 79-73
on grounds that it did not meet the Constitutional threshold for
ousting a sitting president. 
    The vote ran largely along party lines, as widely expected,
with some centrists voting in Pinera's favor.
    Pinera was the first president to face impeachment in Chile
in more than 60 years. The outcome of the vote, however, was
hardly cause for celebration as the debate exposed deep-seated
divisions and simmering anger, said political analyst Lucia
Dammert, of think-tank Espacio Publico. 
    "The administration must now take advantage of this decision
to promote reforms," Dammert told Reuters. Pinera has proposed
boosting the minimum wage, beefing up pensions and slashing
costs for public services.
    Chile has been rocked by nearly two months of chaos and
protests over inequality and social injustices. Rioting has left
26 dead, billions in damages and widespread allegations of
abuse, torture and rape by security forces.
    The center-right Pinera has borne the brunt of the blame.
His approval rating has plunged to 10%, lowest for a sitting
president since Chile's return to democracy in 1990.
    Left-leaning lawmakers behind the impeachment bid blasted
Pinera for declaring early in the crisis that Chile was "at war
with a powerful enemy," and being slow to stamp out police
abuses. 
    
    RAUCOUS DEBATE        
    Pinera's lawyer opened the debate in the lower house
mid-morning, arguing the move to impeach was rash and legally
unfounded.
    "There is no playbook for a president to confront situations
like these," said attorney Juan Domingo Acosta. He said Pinera
had not sought to repress protesters, but rather, to "maintain
public order."
    The hours-long debate quickly turned raucous, prompting
house president Ivan Flores, of the centrist Christian Democrat
party, to temporarily suspend the session by mid-afternoon.
    "It's hard to erase from memory images of troops deployed
throughout the capital, repressing protesters," said socialist
lawmaker Gaston Saavedra.
    Right-leaning supporters of Pinera's hung placards that said
"Care for our Democracy," warning that a politically motivated
or impeachment could have long-term consequences.
    Leftist lawmakers, in turn, mounted a sketch of a bloodied
eye on their desks, in homage to more than 200 people who
suffered severe eye trauma in the demonstrations, mostly due to
police rubber bullets.
    Several international rights groups have condemned
widespread police abuses. More than 800 police officers are
under investigation, authorities said, and officials have
promised deep reforms to protocols.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N28M0JP

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UPDATE 1-Chilean lawmakers censure ex-interior minister over
rights abuses     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N28L2BY
Chile Pinera faces new protests after firing ministers, courting
working class     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL2N27D0FO
Chile's Pinera asks for help from military even as abuse
allegations mount     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2861QK
Chileans suffering eye trauma from protests march on
presidential palace      urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2880IV
Chile central bank holds benchmark rate steady even as protests
hammer economy     urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N28E1TF
Chilean lawmakers warn democracy at stake as violence spikes   
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N28801I
Chile announces $5.5 bln economic recovery plan as protests bite
    urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N28C0ID
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 (Reporting by Dave Sherwood and Natalia Ramos, editing by Adam
Jourdan, Grant McCool, Nick Zieminski and David Gregorio)
 ((dave.sherwood@thomsonreuters.com; +56 9 9138 1047, +56 2 2370
4224; Reuters Messaging:
dave.sherwood.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))