Public Security: What Will Be the Strategy of Rincón, Carter, Kaiser, Matthei, and Kast?

El Líbero, June 6, 2024

Regardless of whether the chosen right-wing alternative is traditional or innovative, it must have a precise action plan for the actions it will take on March 12, 2026, as it is essential to follow the principle of “hit the ground running.”

On Saturday, June 1, 2024, the third Presidential Accountability Report was held, where, for obvious reasons, the issue of public security took center stage. However, that said, there was nothing new, just more of the same, and it seems that the government has seen the light and lost interest in bad initiatives or those that, while good, are poorly conceived. I refer to Critical Infrastructure, Rules of Use of Force (RUF), and the Intelligence Law. Unfortunately, they insist on moving forward with the Ministry of Security, which will only mean a larger state and more bureaucracy. Everything indicates that it is very likely that the government, unless something extraordinary happens, will continue a public security strategy of

keeping the disease under control, but without addressing or solving the causes that generate it. This is what they have done in the Southern Macrozone or at the borders with Peru and Bolivia. It is what their progressive DNA allows them to do and something that their 30% is willing to support, but no more than that. Since supporters of Boric do not usually write in this medium, I leave you the link to a column recently published by the executive director of Chile 21 Daniel Grimaldi titled “Forceful: the Security Axis in President Boric’s Third Accountability Report,” which accurately portrays how they think and what they will do in this matter. There is always the possibility that the previous strategy will produce a sense of security, especially if an innovative use of crime statistics is made. This would almost guarantee a candidacy for

Carolina Tohá , the opponent against whom the right-wing “establishment” alternatives would have to face,Evelyn Matthei or J osé Antonio Kast, or individuals likeXimena Rincón ,Rodolfo Carter or Johannes Kaiser , who could seek to compete by taking a hardline approach similar to that of Milei, waving the banner of a tough stance like Bukele or Noboa.The current government’s solutions are, to some extent, not very different from those that a center-right or right-wing government that has participated in and agreed to the security agenda with Boric’s team, Minister Tohá, and the rest of Parliament would bring. Building mega-prisons or walls at the borders are harsher measures that clearly help contain, but like others, they do not address the roots of the problems that afflict us and only contain them.

It is very possible that none of the opposition candidates want to show their cards so early, waiting to see how the government fares with its current strategy for the remainder of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. However, the major issue to decide, or decision to make, is between

a strategy of continuity of the current government or a more disruptive and innovative one that tackles the core of the problems head-on. By tackling the core of the problem, I refer to an

action by police forces accompanied by military forces that go out to seek criminals and put them directly in jail. The same applies to the insurgency in the Southern Macrozone and to the land occupations that exist in multiple parts of Chile. In summary, we are talking about a rapid action to restore the rule of law throughout Chile, in an operation that will obviously require a tough approach, where there may be casualties since it is very likely that criminals and insurgents will resist. An action that may involve, if necessary, the temporary closure of borders and the use of all the force and capabilities that the state possesses. I do not rule out that Evelyn Matthei or José Antonio Kast, if necessary, may decide to take a path like the one described, but they carry baggage that may be seen as a burden when decisive action is required and decisions that may appear undemocratic or harmful to human rights must be made. Those who operate more on the margins or are willing to go to the margins have an advantage in this matter.

Liberal democracies or progressive ones are poor at solving problems where force must be used and which, by their nature, may involve deaths and injuries. This is something that those who have implemented tough measures understand, and that is why they behave more like Roman consuls than as heads of democratic governments without parliamentary majorities who fall victim to the system’s inability to cure its ills.

Regardless of whether the chosen right-wing alternative is traditional or innovative, it must have a precise action plan for the actions it will take on March 12, 2026, as it is essential to follow the principle of

“hit the ground running.” They must be concrete measures to restore the rule of law and the supremacy of the law, keeping in mind that the left, when not in government, takes its 30% to the streets as has been its practice in recent years, and denies salt and water in Congress, so it must operate under the principle of“plan for the worst and wish for the best.” Public opinion can be fickle, but it now wants results and will reward or favor not only those who seem most trustworthy but also those who offer more concrete results in security, including eliminating or neutralizing criminals and insurgents who do not respect the rule of law, or those who take parts of Chile and pretend to be their sovereigns.

If they want to make the most of the time, they should seek to provide the Armed Forces, Order, and Public Security with guarantees and security of justice and due process during the remainder of the year, ensuring that it will be the bad guys and not the good ones who go to jail. Any strategy that involves using the full force of the state requires the cooperation of military and police forces, who, unless they see the above, will not sacrifice themselves for the public security of their compatriots.

They can also take advantage of the time by preparing a list of concrete actions to be carried out on day one, which can be updated if necessary, as in a year and a half the groups to be acted upon or the places to intervene may change.

Having a clear understanding of what will be done on March 12, 2026, is very helpful, especially if it includes the actions to be taken, responsible parties, details, expected results, etc. We will see whether it is Evelyn’s, José Antonio’s, Ximena’s, Rodolfo’s, or Johannes’s laundry list that will be implemented, but for now, let us be grateful that we are not yet Mexico, a country where mayors and candidates are killed, a country where, by failing to take timely action, organized crime has been allowed to take control.

Richard Kouyoumdjian

Vice President of AthenaLab
Source:

El Líbero.