El despliegue de Carabineros para que Boric fuera al estadio

Recently, there was a controversial deployment of police in Chile to escort left-wing presidential hopeful Gabriel Boric to a football match. The deployment was considered excessive by some who saw it as an abuse of power. The incident happened when Boric was invited to attend a match celebrating 95 years of Club Deportes Antofagasta.

The deployment of more than a dozen police officers was reportedly made on the request of the Governor of Antofagasta, Edgar Blanco. According to him, the measure was to protect Boric from potential aggression given the heightened political tensions. However, once the images were published, social media, and opposition representatives criticized the decision as excessive and a misuse of resources by the police.

Boric is known for his social activism and has been critical of the police’s role in Chile. In the 2019 protests, Boric even proposed the dissolution of the police. His detractors believe that this deployment by the police was a calculated move to discredit Boric, while his supporters highlight the irony of Boric being escorted by Carabineros, the same police force he has criticized publicly in the past.

This deployment of police for political purposes has raised questions about the role of the police force in Chile’s politics. This debate is happening against the backdrop of an increased political polarization in the country ahead of the presidential elections.

The controversy has led to calls for more transparency and accountability in how the police force deploys its resources. The incident has also highlighted the importance of political neutrality of the police force especially in a democratic society. The event is a reminder that the role of the police should be limited to protecting citizens and not to become tools for politicians’ personal interests.