French Assembly medal for jailed Mapuche leader strains Chile-France ties

A French National Assembly medal was delivered to Héctor Llaitul, imprisoned leader of the radical Mapuche group CAM, via his son in Paris. The gesture by Franco-Chilean deputy Rodrigo Arenas signals foreign political support for a figure Chile's courts convicted of crimes, likely escalating diplomatic friction. The medal's delivery is confirmed, but its official status and impact on bilateral relations remain uncertain.