Monday, August 10th 2026 - 19:40 UTC
“It is legitimate for lawmakers to introduce their bills and for a debate to be generated around that, but we are not going to move forward on this matter,” the president said
Chilean President José Antonio Kast said on Monday that his government would not push forward a bill introduced by lawmakers from his own coalition that would condition access to legal abortion on a woman agreeing to hear the fetus's cardiac activity.
“It is legitimate for lawmakers to introduce their bills and for a debate to be generated around that, but we are not going to move forward on this matter,” the president said in an interview with T13 Radio. He recalled that his campaign centered on an emergency government focused on the economy, security and social issues, and that he would not promote measures that generate tension.
Kast also drew a distinction about the text itself. “In other countries, the heartbeat is voluntary. The difference with the parliamentary bill in Chile is that it was made compulsory,” he said.
