Santiago, Chile – In a political situation that has generated debate in the country, the Broad Frontparty led by the president Gabriel Borichas stopped a bill that proposed to impose fines of up to $ 340 thousand for not participating in the mandatory voteincluding a foreigners With more than five years of residence. This attempt at legislation was suspended thanks to the intervention of the senator Juan Ignacio Latorrewho requested a second discussion, emphasizing the need for an agreement that limits the right to suffrage to Chilean citizens in presidential and parliamentary elections.
The context of mandatory vote and foreigners in Chile
Chile is one of the few countries that allows foreigners Vote in all elections, including presidential. More than 514 mil foreign voters were registered in 2022, a figure that could have promoted to 800 mil currently. This right, established in the Article 14 of the Constitutionhas aroused interpretations about its character mandatory or voluntary.
The bill, initiated in July 2024, intended to modify the Article 15 of the Constitution To sanction those who do not vote, without distinction of nationality. However, both the Executive and the Broad Front have advocated to restrict the foreign vote only to municipal elections, arguing that national decisions must be exclusively from Chilean citizens.
The intervention of the Broad Front
The senator Latorre communicated in a message in X which requested the second discussion of the project, expressing its desire to achieve a “sensible agreement.” He reiterated his position to the next day, reaffirming that the exclusion of foreigners in the presidential elections must be a priority. This strategy has temporarily paralyzed the debate in the Senate and has triggered criticism from the opposition, which accuses the ruling party of manipulating electoral standards.
Opposition figures, like the senator Manuel José OssandónThey have raised alert voices, suggesting treating foreign vote in a separate migration bill. In a critical tone, the senator Luz Ebensperger He has denounced that the official position seeks to politically benefit the government.
Political reactions and tensions
As the presidential and parliamentary elections approach 2025tensions between ruling and opposition intensify. From the Frente Amplio, the deputy Gonzalo Winter has described fines as “Antipobres”arguing that they disproportionately affect the most vulnerable sectors. This contrasts with the Boric position in 2021, who acclaimed the reform that restored the mandatory vote.
Meanwhile, the opposition fears that the migrant vote, especially communities such as Venezuelanprivilege of center and right candidates, thus feeding accusations of electoral calculations.
-The presidential veto and the rejected proposals
The Executive has tried to limit foreign vote on several occasions. In March 2025, the Senate Government Commission disqualified the government’s proposals that wanted to restrict the vote to municipal elections, arguing that they went beyond the original scope of the project. In addition, in July 2024, socialist deputies tried to suppress foreign vote in national elections, justifying it in the need to protect national sovereignty.
Álvaro ElizaldeMinister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, has defended the official perspective, suggesting that the fines only apply to “citizens”, leaving out foreigners. The opposition, however, argues that this difference is unfair and demands equality in electoral obligations.
Impact on the electoral panorama
In a standard of 15 million voters With a participation of 85% In the plebiscite of 2022, the debate on foreign vote and fines has deep implications. Foreigners, who represent a 5,1% Of the total electors, they could influence at odds. The insistence of the Broad Front to limit this right, together with the paralysis of the fines project, could drastically alter the electoral dynamics in a crucial year.
Political analysis of The Times in Spanish
The movement of Broad Front To stop the fines project and limit the foreign vote reflects a strategic dilemma, where principles of inclusion and pragmatic considerations are faced. Although the party has been a historical defender of the rights of migrants, its recent attitude suggests an adjustment to the concern that foreign vote could harm it electorally.
Analysis outstanding by sources such as The country Chile y The third They emphasize that the debate does not focus solely on sanctions, but on the definition of who has the right to decide on the future of Chile. The Posture of the Broad Front by excluding foreigners from national elections could be seen as an attempt to protect the sovereignty Electoral, but also as a defensive response to a migrant electorate who, according to some surveys, could reject leftist policies.
As this dispute progresses, the result will not only define the framework for the 2025 elections, but also the public perception of the Buric government in this critical stage.
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