Chile Court Deals Kast 9-1 Defeat Over Free Disaster Reconnections
Chile's Constitutional Court on August 25 rejected, by nine votes to one, the Kast government's attempt to strike down a rule guaranteeing free reconnection of basic services in disaster zones. The same morning, constitutional scholars Javier Couso and Arturo Fontaine publicly urged the president to withdraw his security reform. The post Chile Court Deals Kast 9-1 Defeat Over Free Disaster…
On August 25, 2026, the Chilean Constitutional Court delivered a nine-to-one ruling against President José Antonio Kast's attempt to eliminate Article 31 of the National Reconstruction and Economic and Social Development bill. The article mandates utility companies to provide free reconnection of water, electricity, and gas services in disaster zones, even where services had been cut due to non-payment before the emergency.
The ruling keeps Article 31 of the reconstruction mega-law, which aims to provide direct, cost-free relief to households and small businesses affected by the January 2026 wildfires in Valparaíso, Ñuble, and Biobío regions. The court rejected the presidential requirement, emphasizing the importance of the clause in providing immediate assistance to victims.
Opposition leaders criticized the government's failure to withdraw the security reform, while constitutional scholars urged Kast to withdraw the flagship reform. The Chilean government acknowledged the ruling and pledged to comply with the decision.
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