On 10 September, the Chilean Senate approved a constitutional amendment to restrict voting rights for non-naturalized foreigners that would enter into force in 2026. The unanimous vote amended Article 14 of the Constitution, which previously allowed foreign residents with five years of residency to participate in all elections. Under the new provisions, eligibility will require ten years of continuous residency and permanent legal status to vote in all elections. Proponents assert that the amendment enhances democratic integrity by aligning voting rights more closely with national citizenship, with compulsory voting in place since 2022. However, critics caution that it risks marginalizing immigrant communities and undermining inclusion. The bill, which also introduces fines for Chilean citizens who fail to vote, will now be considered by the Chamber of Deputies.

Sources: Senado de la República de Chile, La Tercera, El País 

On 22 July, a civil court in Santiago ruled that the heirs of former dictator Augusto Pinochet must return USD 16 million to the Chilean state. The case builds on a 2018 Supreme Court ruling—known as the ‘Riggs case,’ after the bank that helped conceal millions in embezzled assets—that determined Pinochet had diverted public funds and hidden them in offshore accounts. The new judgment states that his heirs benefited from this illicit money and are therefore responsible for returning it to the state. Pinochet was prosecuted in 2005 for the funds but never served prison time, as he died in 2006 before a conviction was secured. The new ruling affects more than 15 members of the Pinochet family and could still be appealed. Experts have praised the decision, saying it represents the first attempt to repair the significant material damage caused by Pinochet’s de facto administration through the misappropriation of public funds.

Sources: El Pais, Radio Chile, Pagina 12

On 6 May, the Commission for Peace and Understanding delivered its final report to President Gabriel Boric. This marked a milestone in institutional efforts to address the long-standing territorial conflict in Chile’s ‘Southern Macrozone’. The region has been militarised and under a state of exception since 2021 due to escalating tensions between the state and Mapuche Indigenous communities over their historic demand for their ancestral land and self-determination. The Commission, established in 2023, included Mapuche commissioners (four out of eight in total), and presented 21 recommendations. These include new laws to recognize Indigenous groups, new mechanisms for land restitution, and reparations to victims of the conflict involving the Mapuche. The government announced initial responses, including consultations with Indigenous groups, a new system for assessing and conducting land restitution, enhanced support for conflict victims, and an economic recovery and development plan for the region. 

Sources: El Pais, Presidencia de Chile, Radio Universidad Chile, Ciper

On 4 February, President Boric enacted Law 21.732, which replaces the country’s old anti-terrorism law (No. 18.314). The new legislation aims to strengthen law enforcement efforts against terrorism amid a deteriorating security situation linked to a rise in organized crime. The law authorizes special investigative techniques for terrorist crimes, including the controversial "IMSI-Catcher" technology, which enables communication interception and grants access to information about individuals under investigation—as well as those around them. Critics argue that this technology may infringe on the privacy of individuals unrelated to the crimes under investigation. They also raise concerns about the law’s vague definition of “terrorism,” warning it could be misused to target political dissent, as among the new provisions is the ability to prosecute individuals solely for being part of terrorist organizations. The law also criminalizes collaboration with such groups and the financing of terrorism.

Sources: Ministerio del Interior Chile, CIPER, Biobio Chile, Bibilioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile